The Story of a Regiment: 

A HISTORY OF THE CAMPAIGNS, 
ASSOCIATIONS IN THE FIELD, 



THE SIXTH REGIMENT 

OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 



By E. HANNAFORD, 

Formerly a Member of the Regiment, and later Adjutant of the l^'jtb 0. V, I, 



For Romans, in Rome's quarrel, 
Spared neither land nor gold. 
Nor son nor wife, nor limb nor life, 
In the brave days of old. 

MaCAULAY's " HoRATIUS." 

CINCINNATI: 
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, 

No. 38 West Fourth Street. 
1868. 




Entered, according to Aft of Congress, in the year 1868, by 

E. HANNAFORD, 

In the Clerk's Office of the Dlstridl Court of the United States, for the Southern 
Distrid of Ohio. 

STEREOTYPED AT THE FRANKLIN TYPE FOUNDRY, CINCINNATI, O. 



UrL 






{ Under a merciful Providence,) 
Has taught me to cease to wonder 



*' y^S so jiirudloul a Icliuc^anct; iras ^ouclisafctl to j|e/' 

Amid the perils of some of the scenes which 
I have attempted to describe, 

^\\% "^ofunip is ^pfiirafpft. 



In a spirit of gratitude for the past. 
And hope for the future, 

BY THE AUTHOR. 



PEKSOJS-AL. 



IN bringing to a completion the product of many weary hours' labor, 
extended over a period of more than two years, it would be indecent 
should I omit to acknowledge the extent of my indebtedness to a large 
number of friends for their generous cooperation, in furnishing data and 
materials of various kinds, as well as for the constant encouragement and 
sympathy which have made possible what could never otherwise have been 
accomplished, notwithstanding that my task has truly been a labor of love. 
I desire to thank thorn all most heartily; and if any of them turn from 
this volume with a feeling of disappointment, it is no more than I have 
done very many times during its preparation, on account of the disparity 
between my design and the actual performance. 

The map of the Cheat Mountain region was prepared expressly for this 
work by Mr. George B. Nicholson (to whom my warmest thanks are due 
for great and constant assistance, in many different ways), and is, I 
believe, the only one extant that is worth the trouble of referring to, in 
connection with the history of the campaign there in the fall of 1861. I 
regret that it ha8 been impossible, from pecuniary considerations, to intro- 
duce more maps, as at one time I hoped that I should be justified in do- 
ing ; but this is of the less consequence, as good maps of Kentucky, Ten- 
nessee, etc., can readily be procured almost anywhere. 

Although to the fair-minded reader nothing of the kind will be neces- 
sary, it may not be improper for me to say that those chapters which re- 
late to the battle of Shiloh were not written in a spirit of derogation of 
the character, or invaluable services elsewhere, of him who is now the 
first soldier of the Republic, and, indeed, the foremost one of all Ameri- 



■Vi PERSONAL. 

ca's great names belonging to the Present. General Grant's place in the 
confidence and esteem of his countrymen is too well assured to require 
for its continuance the distortion of a single historic fact. Probably no 
man now living could better afford to have the exact truth told concern- 
ing his public career, as a whole, than the present General-in-Chief of the 
armie sof the United States; and, to my mind, the simple fact that General 
Grant was able to rise superior to the adverse fortune which the Shiloh 
campaign seemed to have fastened upon him, and which would have de- 
stroyed forever the capacity for usefulness of any ordinary man, is one 
of the strongest proofs which he could possibly give of the possession of 
intellectual and moral power — in a word, of those traits of character which 
constitute real greatness. 

In regard to Genei-al Badeau's Shiloh narrative, I should be sorry to 
be understood as implying that its misrepresentations are intentional. 
General Badeau was not present at that battle in any capacity, and it ia 
both reasonable and charitable to suppose that he was himself misinformed 
by others. 

E. HANNAFORD. 

CiNCnmATi, August, 1868. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



PART I. 



CHAPTER I. 

The Guthrie Greys. — (1854-April 18th, 1861.) — Ohio's Patriotism— Her 
unpreparedness for the War — Organization of the Independent Guthrie 
Greys — Biographical Sketch of Captain Presley N. Guthrie — Incidents, 
etc. — The I. G. G. Battalion— Biographical Sketch of Major W. K. 
Bosley — Prosperity — Encampment at Middletown — Parades, etc. — 
Defense of the Jail— The Election in April, ISOl— "G. B. McClellan, 
Esq." — He declines the Mayorship — The political horizon darkens — 
Honors to Major Anderson — "Sumter Times" — Action of the Battalion 
— A Regiment of Greys 17-32 

CHAPTER n. 

The Three Months' Service. — (April 19th-June loth, 1861.) — The War 
excitement — Camp Harrison organized — The Greys and other troops at 
Camp — Visitors, Drills, Incidents, etc. — Mustering in — Roster of Offi- 
cers — Camp Life — Equipment — Marching Orders — Camp Dennison — 
The first death in the regiment — Movements in West Virginia— The 
Sixth Indiana entertained — Tidings of Philippi 33-44 

CHAPTER III. 

Reorganization. — (May 24th-June 28th, 1861.) — The Three Years' ques- 
tion — Difficulties attending Reorganization — Prompt reiinlistment of 
the Ninth Ohio — The Sixth re-mustered — Troops moving to the Front — 
Incidents, etc. — Roster of Officers — Biographical Sketches of the Field 
and Staff, viz. : Lieutenant-Colonel N. L. Anderson, Major A. C. Chris- 
topher, Surgeon Starling Loving, Assistant Surgeon F. W. Ames, 
Adjutant C. H. Heron, and Quartermaster E. M. Shoemaker 45-54 

CHAPTER IV. 

To the Front.— (.June 29th-July 6th, 1861.)— Marching Orders— Farewell, 
Camp Dennison — The trip by rail to Bellair — Xenia, London, Columbus, 

(vii) 



viii TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

Cambridge — At Belmont — Across the Ohio — The Baltimore and Ohio 
Railroad — At Fetterman — Fourth of July— The Forced March to Phil- 

jppi The situation— A Resume— The Plan of Campaign — Morris' 

Brigade — Biographical Sketch of General Thomas A. Morris 55-68 

CHAPTER V. 

Laurel Hill— (July 7th-13th, 1861.)— A night march — In position— "The 
Siege of Laurel Hill" — Incidents, etc. — McClellan's cooperative move- 
ment from Buckhannon — The Middle Fork Bridge affair — Rich Mount- 
ain — Garuett's flight — Its discovery — Pursuit — Waiting for daylight — 
Forward again — A terrible march — Closing in upon the enemy .. 69-79 

CHAPTER VL 

Carrtck's Ford.— (July 13th-iJ0th, 1861.)— The sounds of Battle— On the 
field— Captain Benham's Of&cial Report of Carrick's Ford— Resting — 
General Garnett — Return to Laurel Hill — McClellan's movement to 
Cheat Mountain — End of the Campaign — The Three Months' Regiments 
return home — Glance at their future — General Morris' subsequent 

career 8U-b'J 

CHAPTER VII. 

Beverly.- (July 21st-August 27th, 1861.) — To Beverly— Tidings of Bnll 
Run — McClellan summoned to Washington — The situation in West 
Virginia— Reynolds' Brigade — Biographical Sketch of General Joseph 
J.Reynolds — Duties of the Sixth Ohio at Beverly — Scouting — Company 
D to Leedsville — Death of Corporal Ford — The expedition under Cap- 
tain Clarke — Its disastrous termination — Mountaineer Guerrillas — 
Excellent sanitary condition of the Regiment — Changes among its 
ofl&ccrs — A night march to Huttonsville — Return 90-99 

CHAPTER VIII. 

To Elkwater. — (August 29th-September 9th, 1861.) — A night march to 
Elkwater — Fortifying — The situation — Topography of the Cheat Mount- 
ain region — Colonel Kimball's camp on the Summit — The Elkwater 
defenses — Distribution of Reynolds' forces — The Camp of the Sixth 
Ohio — Brady's Gate — The Sixth on picket there — Receiving the Green- 
wood muskets — The BuUtown Scout — Incidents — Picketing Stewart's 
Run— Return of Company D , 100-110 

CHAPTER IX. 

The Discomfiture of Lee. — (September 9th-17th, 1861.) — Lieutenant- 
Colonel Owens' reconnoissance — The enemy in motion — Long Roll — 
Troops to the front — Lee halts — His plan of campaign — The Rebel 
General Anderson's flank movement — Capture of the Stewart's Run 
pickets — A stormy night — Lee closing in — Skirmishing — Incidents — 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. IX 

Dispositions for the night — Tidings of Carnifex Ferry — Critical position 
of affairs about Elk water — Colonel Marrow's expedition to the Summit 
— Repulse and flight of General Anderson's Brigade — Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel Anderson's expedition — Lee wavering in his purpose of attacking — 
More skirmishing — Death of Lieutenant-Colonel John A. Washington — 
Incidents, etc. — Lee retires — General Reynolds' Official Report— Colonel 
Wagner's Official Report (extract) 111-127 

CHAPTER X. 

The Campaign draws to a Close. — (September 18-October 8th, 1861.) — 
The captured pickets — Their march to Richmond — Incidents — Re- 
enforcements— A reconnoissance under Colonel Sullivan — Beating up 
the enemy on Mingo Flats — Returning — A fearful storm — Frank Guhra 
drowned — A flooded camp — The Greenbriar fight — Death of Lieut-L'n- 
ant Bidwell — Biographical Sketch — A reconnoissance under Colonel 
Marrow — The Rebel camp found abandoned — End of the campaign. 

128-141 
CHAPTER XI. 

The time grows short at Elkwater. — (October 8th-November 16th, 
1861.) — The Paymaster — Messrs. Swartz and Marsh — Correspondents 
Miller and Crippen — The Letter Writers of the Sixth Ohio — Re-bri- 
gading — Camp life — Reminiscences — Captain Bense heard from — Res- 
ignations — Autumn deepens — Need of clothing — Relief from Cincin- 
nati, etc. — Inspection by Major Slemmer — Arrival of Surgeon A. H. 
Stephens — Biographical Sketch — Remarkable healthfulncss of the 
Regiment — Death of Vanway and Volkers — Discharges for promotion — 
Thirteenth Indiana on a Scout — Winter at hand — Company G to Bev- 
erly — Third Ohio hutting for winter — Prospective transfer to Ken- 
tucky — Fond hopes — Snow 142-154 

CHAPTER XII. 
Virginia, Farewell! — (November 17th-December 7th, 1861.) — Marching 
Orders — The last night at Elkwater — Off for Kentucky — To Beverly — 
The Third and Twenty-fourth Ohio ahead — Subsequent career of Gen- 
eral Reynolds — Over Rich Mountain — Buckhannon — A race with the 
Twenty-fourth — At Jane Lew — Clarksburg — Paid off — By rail to 
Parkersburg — Down the Ohio — Home and friends near at hand — 
Joyful anticipations — Cincinnati in sight — A bitter, bitter disap- 
pointment — To Louisville — In the mud at Camp Jenkins — A stampede 
— Re-assembling 155-168 

CHAPTER XIII. 

New Associations. — (December 6th-18th, 1861.) — Camp Jenkins — The 
troops there — The Third and Sixth Ohio separated — The Fifteenth 
Brigade, Army of the Ohio — Biographical Sketch of General Milo S. 
Hascall — Under Nelson — The march to Camp Wickliffe — Location, etc., 



X TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

of the new camp — The Tenth Brigade — Disposition of Buell's forces — 
Lincoln's birthplace— Life at Camp AVickliffe — Its daily programme — 
Resignations, promotions, etc. — Tidings of the fight at Woodsonville. 

169-178 
CHAPTER XIV. 
Camp Wickliffe.— (December l-5th, 1861-February 13th, 1862.)— Drills, etc. 

The holidays in camp — Eighth of January — General Nelson's energy 

and great industry — His care of the troops — Sickness in the camp — 
Remarkfible healthfulness of the Sixth Ohio— How accounted for, a 
conversation between General Nelson and Surgeon Stephens — The 
Nineteenth Brigade— Nelson ill, etc. — Muskets exchanged and Sibley 
tents received— Details, courts-martial, etc.— Preparing to move for- 
ward—Orders to change camp, etc. — Tidings of victory : .Mill Spring, 
Fort Henry, and Roanoke Islaud— Marching orders 179-192 

CHAPTER XV. 
Feom Camp Wickliffe to Nashville. — (February 14th-25th, 1862.) — The 
march to West Point — Its difficulties and hardships — The Sixth Ohio 
retained in the Fourth Division by General Nelson's especial request — 
Embarking for Fort Donelson— The order for embarkation — Cannelton — 
Glorious tidings from Fort Donelson — Evansville — Mouth of Gi-een 
River — Back to Evansville and Cannelton — Paducah — Up the Cum- 
berland — Clarksville — Orders from Buell — A push for Nashville — 
Fort Zolli coffer — In sight of the city— The Sixth Ohio the first regi- 
ment to land — It raises its colors over the State House — Captain Driver 
and his flag — History and subsequent fate of "Old Glory."... 193-208 

CHAPTER XVI. 
Camp Andrew Jackson.— (February 2.5th-March 16th, 1862.)— The Sixth 
Ohio at the State House — Out to camp — A cavalry stampede — Compo- 
sition of the Fourth Division — The Sixth Ohio in the Tenth Brigade — • 
Its associations there — The Twenty-fourth Ohio — The Thirty-sixth 
Indiana — Biographical sketch of Colonel Jacob Ammen — Deviltries of 
John Morgan's cavalry, etc. — A military execution— To the Hermitage — 
Continued good health of the Sixth Ohio — Resignations, promotions, 
details, etc. — The ofiicers present during the march to Savanna and 
at Shiloh 209-220 

CHAPTER XVII. 

The march to Savanna. — (iVIarch 17t.h-April 5th, 1862.) — The situation — 
Buell's offer to cooperate with Halleck — The expedition up the Tennes- 
see — The general plan of campaign — The Army of the Tennessee en- 
camped at Pittsburg Landing — Grant and Sherman responsible for 
great errors in the Sliiloh campaign— Unfairness of Badeau's Life of 
Grant in regard to Shiloh — March of the Fourth Division from Nash- 
ville—Franklin, Spring Hill, Rutherford Creek, Carter's Station— The 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. XI 

delay at Duck River — Grant's ignorance of his danger — Nelson's fore- 
sight — He fords Duck River and gains the advance — Columbia, Mount 
Pleasant, Pointer's Furnace, Waynesboro', etc. — Buell instructed to con- 
centrate at Waynesboro', but instead puslies forward — Nelson notified 
not to hasten his march — His unslackened exertions — Rain and bad 
roads — The Fourth Division at Savanna — Grant's interviews with Gen- 
eral Nelson and Colonel Ammen — Nelson peremptorily forbidden to 
march beyond Savanna— Buell's arrival — Inaccuracies of Badeau's 
account — The night before the battle — Grant's and Sherman's last dis- 
patches preceding the battle of Shiloh 221-240 

CHAPTER XYIII. 
To Pittsburg Landing. — (April 6th, 1862.) — A beautiful Sabbath morning 
— The opening roar of battle — Nelson's impatience — He goes to Grant's 
head-quaiters — Marching orders — Grant's note to Buell — No informa- 
tion as to the roads — Captain Kendrick sent out to examine them — 
Rumors of disaster — Nelson's distressing situation — Colonel Ammen at 
the landing at Savanna — No boats from Pittsburg Landing — Ammen' s 
interview with General C. F. Smith — Captain Kendrick' s report — The 
Fourth Division on the march — Through the woods and swamps toward 
the battle-field — Further orders from Grant, who realizes his peril at 
last— Scenes at Pittsburg Landing — The battle of Sunday — Success of 
the rebels— Perilous situation of Grant's army 241-255 

CHAPTER XIX. 
Shiloh. — (April 6th and 7th, 1862.)— Crossing the Tennessee — Grant, Buell, 
and Nelson upon the bluff at Pittsburg Landing — The panic-stricken rab- 
ble at the river — The Thirty-sixth Indiana in action — Importance of the 
services rendered by Ammen's brigade — General Badeau's statements 
upon this point examined— The Sixth Ohio's part in Sunday evening's 
scenes — The Twenty-fourth Ohio— The night between two battles — Com- 
panies A and F, Sixth Oliio, on a reconnoissance at midnight, and private 
Brocksmith killed — Rain and darkness — Formation of the lines for 
Monday's battle — Nelson's attack at daylight — Progress of the battle — 
Terrill's opportune arrival — The fighting of the Fourth Division, of Am- 
men's brigade, and of the Sixth Ohio — Volunteers from Company A, 
Sixth Ohio, manning Terrill's guns — Terrill's letter, and Nelson's in- 
dorsement — Lieutenant Ludlow — End of the battle — Casualties of the 
Sixth Ohio — General Buell's official report (extracts) — General Nelson's 
official report— Letters from Rev. (formerly Captain) J. Mills Kendrick. 
— General Buell's testimony 256-283 

CHAPTER XX. 

The Advance upon Corinth. — (April 8th-May 24th, 1862.) — Dr. Stephens' 
valuable services at Shiloh — The siege of Corinth, so-called — Diary of 
events during April — Organization and position of Halleck's forces — 



2Qi TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

Marching orders — Diary of events to May 24th — Reconnoitering, skir- 
mishino-. fortifying, etc. — At Nichols' Ford — The skirmish of May I'Jth 
— Sergeant Lawler wounded "284-300 

CHAPTER XXI. 

In Corinth and Beyond. — (May 2oth-June 8th, 1862.) — Flag presentation 
from the Sixth'to the Twenty-fourth Ohio — Summary of events to May 
29tli — The evacuation and occupation of Corinth — Pope's pursuit, so- 
called — Summary of events to June 3d — The Fourth Division ordered 
to Pope's support — Through Corinth, Danville, and Rienzi — In position 
— The Army of the Ohio ordered to East Tennessee — Changes among 
the Sixth Ohio's officers — List of those present on June 9th.... 301-311 

CHAPTER XXII. 

luKA AND Athens. — (June 9th^uly 13th, 1802.) — Buell's anomalous cam- 
paign — Diary of events to June 11th — Through Jacinto — At luka — 
Preparing for a summer campaign — Organization of the Fourth Divis- 
ion — The march of June 17th — At Bear Creek — Diary of events to June 
29th — Buzzard's Roost and Tuscumbia — Across the Tennessee at Jack- 
son's Landing — Florence, Shoal River, and Rogersville — Fording Elk 
River— At Athens — The grand review on the Fourth of July — Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Anderson's expedition to the Elk River tunnel — Bio- 
graphical sketch of Colonel William Grose, the new commander of the 
Tenth Brigade 312-321 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

MuRFREESBORO'. — (July 14th-31st, 1862.) — Capture of Murfreesboro' by 
Forrest — Nelson ordered to re-occupy it and secure Nashville— The 
march to Reynolds' Station — Elk River and Pulaski — Diai"y of events 
to July 31st— A railroad accident — Through Columbia — At Nashville 
^By rail to Murfreesboro' — Sixth Ohio quartered in the town — Pur- 
suing guerrillas, fortifying, etc. — \ night alarm — Death of Captain 
Tatem — Biographical Sketch — Changes among the commissioned 
officers 322-332 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

McMiNNviLLE.—( August Ist-Septembcr 7th, 1862.) — Diary of events to Aug- 
ust lOth — Tlirough Beadyville and "Woodbury to McMinnville — The ex- 
pedition toward Sparta — Collins' River, Rock Island, and Caney Fork — 
Picket duty, drills, etc. — The left wing to Murfreesboro' and return — 
Nelson's departure for Kentucky — The muster of August 18th — The 
situation — Evacuation of McMinnville — Diary of events to August 27th 
— To Murfreesboro' with the trains — Returning to McMinnville — Back 
to Murfreesboro' — Bragg's plans and progress — Buell's whole army in 
retreat— Through Lavergne to Nashville 333-344 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. xiii 

CHAPTER XXV. 
The Race with Bragg for Louisville. ^(September 8th-30tb, 1862.) — En 
route for Bowling Green — Diary of events to September 13th — Edgefield 
Junction, Tyree Springs, Mitchellsville, Franklin, and Cave Mill — At 
Bowling Green — Half-rations, etc. — Subsequent services of General 
Ammen — Biographical sketch of General William Sooy Smith, the new 
commander of the Fourth Division — The situation — The march resumed 
— Diary of events — Dripping Spiings, Prewitt's Knob, etc. — In line of 
battle — Woodsonville, Green River, Munfoi-dville, Camp Nevin, Eliza- 
bethtown, and West Point — Hard-tack once more — To Louisville — On 
Goose Island — Muster-out, etc., of Colonel Bosley — Resume of the Sixth 
Ohio's service since leaving Corinth — Changes among the commissioned 
ofacers 345-357 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

Nelson. — His death and burial — Biographical sketch — Extent of his services 
at Shiloh — Summary of General Nelson's character 358-369 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

Perrtville, Wildcat, and Nashville Again. — (October Ist-December 
25th, 1862.) — Reorganization of Buell's army — New troops — The Eighty- 
fourth Illinois — Diary of events to October 8th — Floyd's Fork, Mount 
Washington, Bardstown, Springfield, and Rolling Fork — The battle of 
Perry ville — In position on the right, skirmishing, etc. — True significance 
of the battle — Buell's failure to improve a great opportunity — Recon- 
noitering, etc. — In pursuit again — Danville and Stanford — Diary of 
events to October 18th — A night march — Crab Orchard, Mount Vernon, 
Rockcastle River, Camp Wildcat, and Nelson's Cross-roads -Counter- 
marching toward Nashville — A snow storm — The scenes of Valley Forge 
repeated — Somerset, Fishing Creek, Mill Spring, Edmonton, Glasgow, 
and Scottsville — Through Gallatin and across the Tennessee — At Silver 
Springs — The situation — Promotions, etc. — Outline of events down to 
the battle of Stone River — Biographical sketch of General John M. 
Palmer, the new commander of the Fourth Division — Flag presentation 
to the Sixth. Ohio — Colonel Anderson's speech of acceptance — Changes 
among the commissioned officers, etc. — Biographical sketch of Major 
Anthony 0. Russell 370-389 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 
Stone River. — (December 26th, 18G2-January 4th, 1863.) — The situation — 
Organization of the Fourth Division — On the march to attack Bragg at 
Murfreesboro' — Skirmishing, etc. — Lavergne, Stewart's Creek, etc. — In 
position at "Cowan's Burnt House" — Events of December 30th — The 
battle morning — Rosecrans' plans and magnificent example at Stone 
River — Movements of Grose's brigade — Terrific fighting of the Sixth 



xiv TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

Ohio in tlie cedars — Progress of the battle — Supporting Hazen — Rous- 
seau's and H.iscall's mention of the Sixth Ohio — The nights on the 
battle-field — Events of January 1st, 18G3 — The fighting on Friday after- 
noon and its glorious results — Bragg' s retreat — In camp at Murfrees- 
boro' — Biographical sketches of Captain McAlpin, Adjutant Williams, 
and Lieutenant Foster — Colonel Anderson's official report — List of cas- 
ualties of the Sixth Ohio — The regiment's heavy loss — Colonel Grose's 
official report - - 390-ilo 

CHAPTER XXTX. 

MuRFREESBORo' AND Cripple Creek. — (January 5th-June 23d, 1863.) — In 
camp near Murfreesboro' — Foraging, guerrilla hunting, etc. — The Sixth 
Ohio's "roll of honor'' — Changes among the commissioned officers — 
Biographical sketch of Adjutant Throop — -First experience with shelter 
tents— Expeditions to Cripple Creek, Ready ville, Woodbury, Brady ville, 
etc. — Splendid condition of the camp — Tidings of Chancellorsville, 
Streight's exi:)edition, etc. — In camp at Cripple Creek — Drills, reviews, 
etc. — A terrible rain-storm — A memorable grand review — Changes 
among the commissioned officers — Officers on duty with the regiment 
during the TuUahoma campaign 410-431 

CHAPTER XXX. 

From Cripple Creek to the Chickamauga. — (June 24th-September 11th, 
1863.) — The situation — Marching orders — Rosecrans' plan of campaign 
— Diary of events to July 3d — Rain, more rain — Bradyville and Man- 
chester — To Morris' Ford, on Elk River — In camp on Indian C'eek — 
Tidings of Vicksburg — In camp at Manchester — Cutting railroad ties, 
etc. — Camp-life as described in an officer's letter — The party sent to 
Ohio for drafted men — The situation — The march across the Cumber- 
land mountains and Waldron's Ridge to Poe's Tavern — Operations in 
the Tenn'.'ssec Valley — Ilocrossing Waldron's Ridge and down the Se- 
quatchie Valley — Across the Tennessee— Advancing on Chattanooga — 
Shell Mound, Lookout Valley, etc. — Grose's recounoissance to Sum- 
mer town — Occupation of Chattanooga — Rosecrans' misconception of 
Bragg's plans — In pursuit — Graysville and Ringgold — Skirmishing, 
reconnoitering, etc. — Critical situation of the Army of the Cumberland 
— Changes among the commissioned officers, and roster of those present 
on the Chickamauga campaign .j 432-449 

CHAPTER XXXI. 

Chickamauga.— (September 12th-20th, 1863.) — Diary of events to Septem- 
ber 18th — At Gordon's Mill — Reconnoitering, skirmishing, etc. — To 
Chattanooga Valley and back — Watching the line of the Chiokamauga 
— Crawtisli Springs— Private Ilooth, Company F, Sixth Ohio, killed in 
a picket skirmish — The enemy's plans developed — A nigiit march — la 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. XV 

position — Grose's reconnoissance to Baird's division and return — Open- 
ing of the battle — Summary of its principal events, etc. — Casualties of 
the Sixth Ohio — Major Erwin's official report — An officer's letter — Gen- 
eral Reynolds' mention of the Sixth Ohio — Colonel Grose's official re- 
port 450-476 

CHAPTEK XXXII. 

Chattanooga and Brovtn's Ferry. — (September 21st-November 19th, 
1863.) — Retirement to Chattanooga — Bragg's starving-out strategy — 
Straits of the Union army — Leading incidents in the Sixth Ohio's his- 
tory to October 9th — Reorganization of the army — Subsequent career of 
General Palmer and Colonel Grose — Biographical sketches of Generals 
Wood and Hazen, the new division and brigade commanders of the 
Sixth Ohio — Summary of events to October 21st— Sufferings of the troops 
— Rosecrans replaced by General Grant — The Brown's Ferry expedition 
— Its complete success — Hooker's men in Lookout Valley — Summary of 
events to November ISth — Changes among the commissioned officers, 
and roster of those present at Missionary Ridge 477-495 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 

Missionary Ridge. — (November 20th-25th, 1863.) — Longstreet sent into 
East Tennessee — Sherman coming up — Gr'ant's original plan of "the 
battle of Chattanooga " — Preparing for action — Events of November 21st 
and 22d — Wood's division ordered upon a reconnoissance — General 
Wood's description of the seizure of Orchard Knob, the assault oa Mission 
Ridge, etc. — An officer's letter — Incidents — Lieutenant-Colonel Christo- 
• pher's official report — Biographical sketch of Major Erwin — Casualties 
of the Sixth Ohio — General Hazen's official report 496—518 

CHAPTER XXXIV. 

East Tennessee.— (November 28th, 1863-April 16th, 1864.)— The march to 
the relief of Knoxville — Harrison, Georgetown, the Hiawassee, Decatur, 
Sweetwater, the Little Tennessee, Marysville, Little River, eic. — Hard- 
ships of East Tennessee campaigning — To Blain's Cross-roads — The 
Clinch Mountains — Bitterly cold weather — Across the Holston and 
through Strawberry Plains to Dandridge — The retreat from thence — 
Through Knoxville to Campbell's Station — In camp at Lenoir's — Colonel 
Andersou in command of the brigade — Back to Knoxville — The Shuck's 
Gap expedition— Advancing again —Through Strawberry Plains and 
New Market to Morristown — In camp at New Market — Panther Springs, 
Rutledge, Powder Spring Gap, Bonn's Station, etc. — Return of Sergeant 
Price— Reconnoitering, etc. — Longstreet's final withdrawal — Leaving 
East Tennessee — Sti-awberry Plains, Knoxville, Lenoir's, Loudon, the 
Holston, Sweetwater, Athens, Charleston, the Hiawassee, Cleveland, 
etc 519-528 



Xvi TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XXXV. 

Cleveland, Resaca, Home, and Muster-Out.— (April 17Lli-June 23(1, 1864.) 
In camp at Tuckers Gap — Drills, reviews, etc. — Garrisoning Cleve- 
land — Colonel Anderson in command of the Post — Tidings from Tun- 
nel Hill, Dallon, and Resaca — Marching orders — Once more to the front 
— Dalton, Resaca, Calhoun, Kingston, etc. — Guarding the railroad 
bridge .at Resaca — Ninth and Tenth Ohio, and First and Second Ken- 
tucky off for home — Officers and detailed men rejoining the regiment — • 
The trip home — Reception in Cincinnati — Musiei'-out — Present location, 
etc., of tlie officers mustered out with the regiment — Summary of the 
Sixth Ohio's service in marching and fighting —Heavy details for cler- 
ical duty — Remarkable healthfulness of the regiment 529-536 



PART II. 

CHEAT MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNING.— The march to Cheat 
Mountain — A notable scouting adventure — The court- 
martial OF Stalnaker — "Skedaddle" — How did the term 
ORIGINATE? 539-547 

TRAINING UNDER NELSON.— A Private's diary— Nelsoniana 

— A military execution 548-557 

COMING UP AT SHILOH 558-569 

BATTLE PICTURES FROM SHILOH.— 0\ the battle-field— An 

officer's recollections — Extracts from a letter 570-581 

IN THE RANKS AT STONE RIVER 582-596 

m HOSPIT.-VL AFTER STONE RIVER 597-610 

APPENDIX. — Roster of thi; Independent Guthrie Greys — Ros- 
ter of the Sixth Ohio Regiment (three-years' term) 611 



THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 



CHAPTER I. 

THE GUTHRIE GREYS. 

(1854-APRIL 18, 1861.) 

IN the tumultuous rushing to arms which succeeded the full 
of Fort Sumter, the country — that is to say, the loyal 
North — was conscious of great and lamentable unpreparedness 
for the war thus suddenly forced upon it. In fact, from the 
first hour of the tremendous conflict, the nation's salvation lay 
bound up in the patriotism, courage, and determination of the 
people. These grand attributes of a free community produced 
wonderful results. Even amid the wild enthusiasm and ex- 
travagant self-confidence of "Sumter times," they developed 
resources and capabilities of incalculable value, alike in a mili- 
tary and in a political point of view. As the contest deepened, 
and its full significance by degrees dawned upon the popular 
mind, they created vast armies and navies, colossal combina- 
tions, and new methods of warfare, with an energy and 
rapidity unparalleled in history. 

The record of Ohio during the War of the Rebellion is an 
illustrious exemplification of the power inherent in great moral 

principles for effecting vast material results. The President's 
2 (17) 



18 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

first call for troops was issued on the 15th of April, 1861. 
The morning of the 19th saw two entire regiments en route 
from Columbus to the National Capital. Ohio's assigned 
quota, under the call, was thirteen thousand men. Within 
two weeks, says the report of Adjutant-General Buckingham 
for 18G1, nearly thirty thousand had offered their services, 
and, it hud become "a task of serious and embarrassing diffi- 
culty to decide which should be the favored ones." ' Yet the 
war had found Ohio "in no condition whatever to meet its 
requirements. Almost the entire organization of the militia 
was merely nominal. Very many of the high offices were va- 
cimt, and the system, if such it could be called, had no 'work- 
ing power. The only bright spots in this melancholy picture 
wore less than a dozen independent companies of volunteer 
infantry,"^ and seven or eight gun squads of artillery, called, 
by law, companies." 

Two of the infantry companies here referred to — namely, 
the " Independent Guthrie Greys," of Cincinnati — became the 
nucleus of the Sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry; 
whence it naturally came about that that regiment, at home, 
was long known by the old, familiar name of the Guthrie 
Greys, and perhaps many Cincinnatians still remember it best 
by tliat designation. 

Early in the year 1854, a serious disaffection among the 
" Rover Guards," a well-remembered Cincinnati company of 
volunteer militia, culminated in the withdrawal of a number 
of its members, among whom were several of the officers, with 

*Tlif, term "independent companies" here designates all companies 
other than those of the ordinary militia. The Guthrie Greys formed the 
only orizanization which ever availed itself of the provisions of the lavf, 
passed in March, 1S59, legalizing an independent militia. That lavr we 
bIiuII oonsidor presently. 



THE GUTHRIE GEEYS. 19 

the determination of organizing a military corps which should 
be entirely independent of control by the authorities of the 
State or any militia officer appointed under its laws. Their 
first meeting, for this purpose, was held at the Rover Engine- 
house, on Fourth Street, being attended by just seven per- 
sons;* and, on the 19th of April, the anniversary of the battle 
of Lexington, the organization of the " Independent Guthrie 
Greys " was completed. The company assumed its name in 
compliment to the citizen who, by unanimous choice, became 
its first commander. 

Captain Presley N. Guthrie, grandson of an officer in the 
revolutfonary war, was not a novice in military affi\irs. Al- 
though reared to mercantile pursuits, in Pittsburg, Pennsyl- 
vania, where he was born, on the 4th of August, 1819, his 
taste for the profession of arms early manifested itself, and 
while still quite a young man he was chosen to the command 
of the '' Duquesne Greys," a noted volunteer company of his 
native city. On the 11th of March, 1847, having previously 
applied for a position in the regular army, he was commis- 
sioned a captain in the Eleventh United States Infantry; a 
detachment of which, including Captain Guthrie's company, 
were the first reenforcements received by General Scott from 
the United States, cutting their way through hostile forces for 
a considerable portion of the distance between Vera Cruz and 
Puebla. Captain Guthrie was in the battles of Contreras, 
Cherubusco, and El Molino del Key, and, for his gallantry 
and good conduct, received the brevet of Major. In the action 
last named, he was twice shot down, receiving severe and dan- 
gerous wounds. 

* These were P. N. Guthrie, W. K. Bosley, Julian White, John H. 
Carter, James Bense, Samuel B. Neal, and T. A. Bosley. A roster of 
the Guthrie Grey organization is given in the Appendix. 



20 ' THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

The declaration of peace with Mexico was speedily followed 
by the disbandment of the new regiments of regular troops, 
of whicli the Eleventh Infantry was one. Upon his return to 
civil life, Captain Guthrie removed to Cincinnati, where, for a 
number of years, he was engaged as book-keeiser in a mercan- 
tile house on Pearl Street. His military prestige accompanied 
him. He was a leading spirit in the company of Rover Guards, 
and at the period under consideration had recently been its 
captain. 

The Guthrie Greys made their debut on the Fourth of July 
following their organization, in a public parade, wherein thir- 
ty-five members participated.* Though on so modest a scale, 
numerically, the display attracted much attention, and resulted 
in decided benefit to the young company. 

Captain Guthrie continued in command about a year, when 

* None of the survivors but will recall, vrith lingering fondness, the keen 
enjoyments and the good fellowship of this occasion. Captain Guthrie 
resided in Covington. Thither the company repaired after the morning 
parade, and was most hospitably entertained, returning to Cincinnati late 
in the afternoon. The writer is indebted to Mr. John H. Carter for a 
complete " KoU of the Independent Guthrie Greys, on their first parade, 
July 4th, 1854," as follows. The stars indicate withdrawals from the 
Kover Guards: 

Captain, P. N. Guthrie ; * First Lieutenant, W. K. Bosley ; * Second 
Lieutenant, Chas. G. Carter;* Third Lieutenant, Julian White;* Ensign, 
Alexander Lockwood.* 

Orderly Sergeant, John 11. Carter;* Second Sergeant, James Bense;* 
Third Sergeant, Walter J. Smith;* Fourth Sergeant, D. V. Bennett. Cor- 
porals, J. II. Anderson, S. B. Ncal,* W. B. Carter,* J. D. Lovell.* 

Privates, Trux. T. Swift,* W. Vandevier,* John II. Eagau,* C. J. F. 
Burley,* T. A. Bosley,* C. M. Chenoweth, Al. L. Smith, W. H. Vande- 
wator, John Ellis, C. W. Sullivan, L. H. Kellogg, Geo. B. Weidler, W. M. 
Sheppard, Chas. Ilofer, Frank Lewis, J. Ashcraft, W. Price, Chas. H. 
Brutton, W. McGoorge, John Baldwin, H. W. Diggins, Thatcher Lewis. 



THE GUTHRIE GREYS. 21 

he was commissioned Captain in the Ninth Infantry (a new 
regiment which the Honorable Secretary of War, JeiFcrson 
Davis, was just organizing), by President Pierce, with whom 
he was on terms of personal friendship, dating back to their 
service side by side in Mexico. In the fall of 1855, the Ninth 
Regiment was ordered to Washington Territory, and on ar- 
riving there was broken up into isolated detachments, most 
of which were distributed among the posts established for the 
protection of the frontier settlements. Captain Guthrie was 
assigned to the command at Muckleshute, a remote and illy- 
furnished outpost, where many hardships and privations had 
to be undergone ; in addition to which the climate proved un- 
favorable, and after an absence of about eighteen months, he 
rejoined his family, in Covington, the doomed victim of con- 
sumption. He died on the 29th of December, 1857, and was 
buried with military honors by an escort of regulars from 
Newport Barracks, and a full parade of both the Guthrie Greys 
and Rover Guards. 

Meanwhile, the Greys had become a strong organization, 
noted for its enterprise and esprit de corps. In addition to the 
active membership, the books showed a steadily increasing 
list of contributing members, who helped to furnish "the 
sinews of war," and, besides, Avere useful in molding a fa- 
vorable public sentiment. On the 22d of February, 1856, 
which was celebrated by the most imposing pageant that Cin- 
cinnati had ever witnessed, the Greys turned out nearly one 
hundred strong, and bore a very conspicuous part in the mili- 
tary display on that occasion. About twenty-five active mem- 
bers joined the company a few days afterward. 

By the close of the year 1858, the membership had become 
so numerous that a reorganization was deemed expedient, upon 
the basis of two companies instead of one. Thenceforward, it 



22 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

was the battalion of Independent Guthrie Greys, composed of 
the first and second companies. The first meeting of the 
battalion, as such, was held on the evening of January 10th, 
1859. The constitution, previously adopted, was prefaced by 
the following preamble : 

" We, the undersigned, citizens of the State of Ohio, are deeply 
impressed with a conviction that a well-organized militia is the 
best and surest means of national defense, and of protecting the 
lives, liberty, and property of our fellow-citizens from lawless vio- 
lence ; and that, in order to give energy and direction to the mar- 
tial spirit of the soldier, and more especially to preserve inviolate 
and sacred those rights and privileges which have been transmitted 
to us in the happy and admirable Government which we now 
enjoy, and to excel in military tactics, we should be governed by 
laws other than those of common militia. And the better to enable 
us to carry into effect the foregoing, we have formed a military 
corps, and do hereby consent and agree to be governed by the 
following constitution and by-laws." 

The constitution provided for three distinct kinds of mem- 
bership : active, contributing, and honorary life. For the first 
of these, any person of good moral character, a citizen of the 
United States, and at least twenty-one years of age, was eli- 
gible. Contributing members were required to possess similar 
qualifications; they were privileged to attend drills and open 
meetings, but had no voice in either. Honorary life mem- 
bers Avere principally those old and faithful members who had 
performed active duty in the battalion for five years and up- 
ward, and were exempt from all dues and assessments. Upon 
payment of arrearages and returning all equipments, an active 
or contributing member could resign at any time. The of- 
ficers of the battalion were a major, adjutant, quartermaster, 



THE GUTHEIE GEEYS. 23 

paymaster (or treasurer), surgeon, judge-advocate, ensign, and 
sergeant-major. To these were added two civil officers, the 
recording and corresponding secretaries. The company of- 
ficers — non-commissioned inchided — were a captain, three lieu- 
tenants, four sergeants, and four corporals. All officers were 
elected annually by ballot at the first stated meeting in April. 
Three days in each year were set apart for public parades — 
" the 19th day of April (being the anniversary of organiza- 
tion), the 4th of July, and the 22d of February." Special 
parades could be ordered at any time by the commanding of- 
ficer, or by a three-fourths vote of the members. 

The choice for major fell naturally, and without dissent, 
upon the gentleman who had been the company's efficient 
commandant for nearly four years, or since the departure of 
Captain Guthrie. Major William K. Bosley was born in 
Baltimore, January 1, 1825, and came to Cincinnati in Octo- 
ber, 1839. Subsequently he held a position in the Post-office, 
after filling which for some time he engaged in the wall-paper 
business, holding an interest in the firm of Sharpless & Bos- 
ley, on Fourth Street. He first joined the old Light Guard 
company of militia, and next the Rover Guards, holding office 
in both, and upon his withdrawal from the latter, took a 
prominent part in the organization of the Greys. 

At this period the battalion extended its influence to Co- 
lumbus, leaving its impress upon the legislation of the State 
in the passage of "an act to organize and regulate an in- 
dependent militia," which stands recorded upon the statute 
books as "House Bill No. 418, approved March 26th, 1859." 
Like other great bodies, the legislature was disposed to move 
slowly, but the committees M'hich the battalion sent to Co- 
lumbus labored assiduously, and the measure was finally car- 
ried. Under the provisions of this law, the battalion secured 



24 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

two much-desired advantages.* These were, first, the same 
privileges regarding the use of the public arms as were en- 
joyed fey the regular militia ; and, second, the exemption of 
all contributing, as well as active, members from labor on the 
public highways and from all juror duty in State courts. The 
latter provision opened a rich source of revenue, enabling 
the corps to procure a completely appointed armory (in 
Day's building, at the corner of Fifth and Walnut Streets), 
and a handsome camp equipage, of both which the members 
were justly proud. Within two years the company property, 
held in common, amounted in value to several thousand dol- 
lars. 

The form of organizing under the new law was gone through 
with on the 4th of April, 1859. At the same meeting the 
regular annual election was held, resulting in the choice of 

* This bill furnishes internal evidence of an amount of tact and inge- 
nuity, on the part of its framers, that would have done no discredo to 
veteran politicians. The foUovring synopsis gives the main points not 
specified above : In counties having cities of more than 80,000 inhabit- 
ants (thus limiting the application of the statute to the county in vrhich 
Cincinnati is situated), it vras declared to be lawful to organize inde- 
pendent companies, squadrons, battalions, and regiments, provided, how- 
ever, these organizations should be no charge to the State. Each battalion 
was to consist of from two to five companies, and each company of from 
forty to one hundred men, rank and file. Companies might enroll the same 
number of contributing members, and might uniform themselves in accord- 
ance with their own tastes. It was expressly enacted that these organi- 
zations should be "separate from and independent of all other military 
organizations and commands whatever in the State, and should be sub- 
ject solely to the direct call of the Governor and the regularly constituted 
civil authorities," for the ordinary duties of militia. Parades and military 
exercises were required upon at least three set days in each year ; also, 
an encampment, to continue not less than three days, during the months 
of July, August, or September. 



THE GUTHRIE GEEYS. 25 

David A. Enyart and James V. Guthrie as captains of the 
first and second companies, respectively, under Major Bos- 
ley.* 

On July 11th of this year, began the well-remembered en- 
campment of the Greys at Middletown, in Butler County, con- 
tinuing eight days. A large number of invited guests were 
present, including several newspaper reporters from Cincinnati. 
The occasion passed off with great edat, and was keenly en- 
joyed by all. The battalion participated in the ceremonies 
upon the reception of the legislatures of Kentucky and Ten- 
nessee, January 27th, 1860, and extended soldierly hospitalities 
to the Chicago Zouaves, when that famous company visited 
Cincinnati, .under command of the lamented Ellsworth, in 
August of the same year. In February, 1861, it formed a por- 
tion of the escort of Mr. Lincoln, the President elect, on his 
passage through the Queen City toward Washington. It re- 
ceived many invitations from abroad to join with other corps 
in encampments, and to assist at various fetes, but these were 
always " respectfully declined." The following entry occurs in 
the minutes of the meeting, August 13th, 1860: "A communi- 
cation from General Buckner, of the Kentucky militia, inviting 
the battalion to attend an encampment on the 23d instant, was 
read and received. On motion, the invitation was respectfully 

* The other officers were as follows : Adjutant, John Woolley ; Quarter- 
master, B. R. Wilson ; Paymaster, Henry McAlpin ; Surgeon, F. H. 
Ehrman; Ensign, W. S. Irwin; Judge-Advocate, E. M. Shoemaker; Ser- 
geant-Major, A. G. Parker ; Recording Secretary, John W. Morgan ; Cor- 
responding Secretary, Wm. Disney. 

First Company — First Lieutenant, A. C. Christopher ; Second Lieuten- 
ant, E. Loring; Third Lieutenant, M. A. Westcott. 

Second Company — First Lieutenant, J. N. Oliver; Second Lieutenant^ 
Julian White ; Third Lieutenant, G. Shillito Smith. 



26 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

declined." Before the close of the next year, General Buckner 
found many of the Greys, and not a few other Northern sol- 
diers, more than willing to attend his encampments, even though 
invitations were wanting. 

Only once were the Greys called upon to assist the civil 
authorities in preserving order. On the night of January 9th, 
1861, two policemen, named Long and Hallam, were mur- 
dered, under circumstances which greatly excited all classes of 
citizens. The next evening a crowd of some thousands col- 
lected before the jail, at the corner of Hunt and Sycamore 
Streets, threatening to force the building and lynch the men 
charged with the crime. "By courage and firmness, how- 
ever," says the Gazette of the next morning, " the officers of the 
jail prevented the crowd from carrying out its summary inten- 
tions, and the Guthrie Greys soon arriving, the assemblage 
dispersed." At the next meeting the battalion donated to the 
widows of the murdered policemen a considerable portion of 
the amount "paid it by the county commissioners for serv- 
ices rendered in defense of the jail." The money was at once 
paid over through the agency of Mayor Bishop. 

As the annual election, on Monday, April 1st, of this year, 
drew near, the canvass for many of the offices grew quite 
animated. The successful candidates (being the officers at the 
breaking out of the war) were as follows : 

Adj utant, E. Loring ; Quartermaster, W. Byron Carter ; 
Paymaster, G. H. Barbour ; Surgeon, F. H. Ehrman ; Judge- 
Advocate, J. V. Guthrie; Ensign, John C Parker; Sergeant- 
Major, Charles C. Pierson ; Recording Secretary, Charles E. 
Thorp; Corresponding Secretary, William Disney. 

First Company — Captain, Marcus A. Westcott ; First Lieu- 
tenant, John M. Wilson; Second Lieutenant, Henry McAl- 
pin ; First Sergeant, James M. Donovan ; Sergeants, Frank 



THE GTJTHEIE GEEYS. 27 

Tait, Ammi Baldwin, and Charles E. Thorp ; Corporals, J. 
C. Guthrie, N. L. Anderson, L. S. Worthington, and B. R. 
Wilson. 

Second Company — Captain, Julian White ; First Lieuten- 
ant, J. Willis Wilmington ; Second Lieutenant, Thomas S. 
Royse; First Sergeant, John H. Carter; Sergeants, Henry H. 
Tinker, Joseph A. Andrews, and Dudley S. Gregory ; Corpo- 
rals, Charles B. Russell, C. B. Frazier, John W. Morgan, and 
John Beesley, Jr. 

Major Bosley declined a reelection, and was transferred to 
the life honorary roll, after having commanded the corps for 
six consecutive years. The choice of a successor was by no 
means predetermined. The hostile attitude of the lately se- 
ceded States was a source of universal and growing anxiety; 
and though all, save a far-seeing few, still cherished the hope 
of a peaceful yet honorable way out of the national difficulties, 
the possibility of war continued every-where to be a theme of 
daily discussion. In this disturbed state of public affairs, it 
was natural that the Guthrie Greys should desire to have at 
their head a trained and experienced soldier. An entry in 
the minutes for Monday evening, February 4th, 1861, relates 
that " the name of G. B. McClellan was favorably reported 
upon by the committee for life honorary membership, and 
the candidate was unanimously elected." Captain McClellan, 
who was now in civil life, discharging the duties of Vice-Pres- 
ident and Superintendent of the Ohio and INIississippi Rail- 
road, and a resident of Cincinnati, was nominated for Major 
immediately upon Major Bosley's formal declination of another 
candidacy, and at the election received every vote but two, 
which were blank. It is evident, however, that this honor 
was more than unsolicited, for the minutes which record the 
election, proceed : "Adjutant E. Loring presented a commuui- 



28 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

cation from G. B. McClellan, Esq., declaring his inability to 
accept the office of major in the battalion. The subject Avas 
referred to Comrade Loring, who stated that he would see 
Mr. McClellan, and get a final answer." This final an- 
swer was a courteous but positive iteration of his previous de- 
cision. 

Six weeks later, this same " Mr. McClellan " controlled one 
of the largest military departments in the country, and within 
sixteen weeks found himself at the head of the Grand Army 
of the Potomac, there becoming the incarnation of the faith 
and hopes of eighteen millions of loyal people. Nor was this 
all. It was but seven months, to a day, when the highest 
military honors which had rewarded George Washington and 
Winfield Scott were thrust upon him, and Major-General Mc- 
Clellan became the Commander-in-Chief of the Armies of the 
United States. 

During the early months of 1861, the political horizon con- 
tinued to darken daily. Deep yet widely differing emotions 
had thrilled the hearts of the people, when Major Anderson, 
on the night of December 26th, 1860, transferred his little 
garrison from Moultrie to Fort Sumter. At first, the move- 
ment was not at all understood, and the North was but too 
willing to give credit to the weak and vacillating adminis- 
tration for a step taken in direct defiance of the rebellious 
spirit of South Carolina and her fellow-conspirators. For a 
short-lived hour of exultancy, loyal men abandoned themselves 
to the fond belief that they yet had a Government in some- 
thing more than merely a name, and that Government a pur- 
pose. They were soon undeceived. But Major Anderson 
and his one brave, immortal act were tangible realities, and 
around It and him rallied the awakening enthusiasm of thou- 
sands and tens of thousands of true hearts the country over. 



THE GUTHRIE GEEYS. 29 

The first meeting of the Guthrie Greys held after this event 
— on the 7th of January, 1861 — was a large and enthusiastic 
one. The following resolution was offered : ^'Resolved, That 
the armory of the I. G. G. be thrown open for the purpose 
of forming military companies to meet the emergencies of the 
times, and that the officers and members tender their services 
to assist in drilling the same. Also, that a committee be ap- 
pointed to devise means for carrying out the above." Al- 
though this resolution failed of adoption, it was promptly 
voted, at the same meeting, "that this battalion fire a salute 
of one hundred guns on the Public Landing, in honor of Ma- 
jor Anderson and the Union," which was accordingly done 
next day. 

A fortnight later, two nephews of the resolute soldier thus 
honored, upon application in due form, were unanimously 
elected members of the battalion. Nicholas L. Anderson was 
assigned to the first company, and his brother, William P. 
Anderson, to the second. 

General Beauregard opening fire upon Fort Sumter on the 
morning of Friday, April 12th, the telegraph, late on Satur- 
day night, flashed the result of the contest all over the startled 
land. What American, upon whose heart had fallen those 
words of omen, " Sumter surrendered," will ever forget the 
Sabbath day that followed? In the newspapers of Monday 
morning appeared the President's proclamation, calling out 
" the militia of the several States of the Union, to the aggre- 
gate number of 75,000," for the period (as instructions from the 
AVar Department added) of three months, unless sooner dis- 
charged. At once the wild, passionate outburst of feeling, 
with which the North was now convulsed, found direction and 
definite purpose; and, although all have smiled since, while 
recalling the crude and fiinciful notions of that period, time has 



30 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

proven how true at heart that feeling was to the instincts of 
the loftiest patriotism. We have seen how grandly Ohio re- 
sponded to the demands upon her, and yet she had no preem- 
inence. The whole nation brought its best gifts — the service 
of its hands, its heart, its brain — and laid them down at the 
feet of the imperiled Government. 

Governor Dennison's proclamation was prepared the same 
day, and telegraphed to all parts of the State. The Guthrie 
Greys assembled that evening in special meeting. Many old 
members attended, whose connection had lapsed into contrib- 
uting or life honorary memberships, and several names were 
transferred back to the " active roll," by acclamation — Captain 
A. C. Christopher and Charles H, Heron being among them. 
Upotn motion of the latter, and with but one dissenting voice, 
the battalion passed the following resolutions : 

" Whereas, Civil war has been inaugurated in our country by 
the forcible ejection of our soldiers from a Government fort, and 
the President has deemed it necessary to call out the militia of 
the several States, for the protection of the public property and the 
suppression of insurrection ; therefore, 

'■^ Resolved^ That we, the Independent Guthrie Greys, of Cin- 
cinnati, hereby tender our services, as a military body, to the 
Governor of the State, to aid the President in the execution of 
the laws and the upholding of the Constitution and Govern- 
ment. 

^'■Resolved, That our commandant be instructed to report us 
ready for duty on call of the Governor." 

When the battalion re-assembled on Tuesday evening, which 
it did with Major Bosley once more in the chair, the armory 
was full. Its roster, at this date, included only seventy-nine 



THE GUTHRIE GREYS. 31 

active members, all told,* and the first action now taken was 
the appointment of "a special committee to receive recruits to 
fill up the roster of the First and Second Companies." No re- 
ply had yet been received from the Governor, but, as there 
was every reason to expect that it would be a favorable one, 
preparations were begun with vigor for putting the corps into 
the field without delay, and in the best condition possible. 
Recruits came forward by scores and hundreds ; the two com- 
panies were filled as rapidly as the names could be taken 
down, and by the evening of Wednesday, April 17th, the regi- 
ment of Guthrie Greys, then forming, had become a theme of 
general conversation throughout the city. 

On the 18th, several volunteer companies left Cincinnati for 
Columbus, and being there assigned to the First and Second 
Regiments Ohio Volunteer Militia, almost without a halt were 
hurried off toward Washington. Meanwhile, new develop- 
ments of treason and madder violence throughout the infatu- 
ated South, hour by hour fed the universal excitement, and 
kindled to fiercer heat the temper of the people. More than 
ten thousand men drilled nightly in Cincinnati during the 
week following the fall of Sumter. Practically, business was 
ignored ; one great distinction, well-nigh obliterating every 
other, divided the citizens into two classes — they who were "go- 
ing to camp," and those who staid at home. Thousands of 
the latter enrolled themselves in " home-guard " organizations, 
while the former found scores of companies open to their 
choice, and each cast in his lot with that one of the number 
which best pleased him. Under these circumstances, recruit- 
ing went forward with wonderful rapidity and ease. The 
making up of a picnic party or a pleasure excursion could 

* See roster of the Independent Guthrie Greys, in Appendix. 



32 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

hardly have been managed with more facility. In two or 
three weeks, when the mustering officer had molded the cha- 
otic materials aggregated at Camps Harrison and Clay into 
some sort of defined shape, there stood forth six regiments — 
the Fifth, Sixth, Ninth and Tenth Ohio, and the First and 
Second Kentucky. 



THE three-months' SERVICE. 33 



CHAPTER II. 

THE THREE-MONTHS' SERVICE. 

(APRIL 19-JUNE 16, 1861.) 

ON the afternoon of the 19th of April, 1861, the telegraph 
brought news of the murderous assault upon the Sixth 
Massachusetts, in its passage through Baltimore, which gave 
recruiting a greater impetus than ever, and before the Greys 
closed their armory that night they had enrolled about eight 
hundred names. In the evening, Colonel McCook's German 
regiment — now historically famous as the Ninth Ohio — pa- 
raded the streets, nine hundred and fifty strong, with three 
bauds of music, and created the wildest enthusiasm. A few 
hours earlier, Major-General Lytle, commanding the " First 
Division Ohio Volunteer Militia," received telegraphic orders 
from Columbus to establish a camp of rendezvous near Cin- 
cinnati, to be named Camp Harrison. He promptly selected 
for this purpose the Cincinnati Trotting Park, distant from 
the city about seven miles, on the line of the Cincinnati, 
Hamilton and Dayton Railroad, and began energetic prepara- 
tions for organizing the new camp. 

At that time the vacant Orphan Asylum lot, on Elm Street, 
was the customary city parade ground, and there, witli a few 
other companies, the regiment of Greys assembled during Sat- 
urday forenoon, April 20th, and at 3 P. M., marched out the 
3 



34 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

Hamilton Road to Camp Harrison. The detacliment was ac- 
companied by Menter's Brass Band, which the Guthrie Greys 
succeeded in retaining by private contributions, until the regi- 
ment reorganized for three years. Reaching the park at dusk, 
the men were promptly dismissed to supper and the novelties 
of the first night in camp. Including two or three companies 
which had arrived by an afternoon train, the whole number 
present was about sixteen hundred. Of these. Companies A 
and B (the old organization) of the Greys, had their own tents 
and equipages; the remainder found shelter and a plentiful sup- 
ply of fresh straw in the wooden buildings belonging to the 
grounds. The next day. Sabbath, an immense stream of vis- 
itors poured out from Cincinnati toward camp, where drilling 
went on vigorously till near sundown, when Major Bosley 
held a dress parade of the entire force. Destitute of arms and 
uniforms as they were, the men were no worse off than the 
majority of the officers, while the military acquirements of the 
recruits in very few instances extended much beyond the fac- 
ings. But fourteen hundred men in line was, of itself, an im- 
posing display for those days ; the music furnished was of 
Menter's best, and all were in fine spirits ; and the spectators 
seemed highly gratified with what they had witnessed of " the 
pomp, the pride, and circumstance of glorious war." 

Visitors continued to throng the camp, the railroad company 
running a special train for the accommodation of those who 
wished to remain for dress parade ; and, as admission was open 
to all, and few came empty-handed, soldier-life at Camp Har- 
rison became simply a kind of protracted picnic. Says the 
Cincinnati Gazette of April 23d : " We found the road to camp 
dotted with carriages, protruding from which might be seen 
baskets and bottles, all filled with the good things of this life, 
to say nothing of the bundles transported in omnibuses and 



THE THREE-MONTHS- SERVICE. 35 

railroad cars. Indeed, we fear that, while our volunteers are 
stationed so near the metropolis in which they have so many- 
friends and relatives, they will not be permitted to experience 
much of real camp life, except so far as drills and orders are 
concerned. There is considerable patriotism shown in refusing 
•to eat mess pork at the expense of Uncle Sam, when Davis' 
sugar-cured is furnished in abundance by the plethoric purses 
of loyal citizens, not to mention the enthusiasm excited by the 
fact that the gambrel of the deceased quadruped, in most cases, 
is handsomely bedecked with tri-colored ribbons, attached by 
the dainty fingers of loved ones." About the close of April, 
the command of Camp Harrison devolved upon Brigadier- 
General Joshua H. Bates — like General Lytle, a militia of- 
ficer, and a prominent lawyer of Cincinnati. One of his first 
acts was to issue an order forbidding the influx of visitors, be- 
cause seriously interfering with the requirements of military 
discipline, as it obviously was; but the regulation was only 
partially effectual, so that, in pleasant weather, crowds of 
wondering and admiring friends might always have been found 
in camp, repeating their good-byes at each successive visit, 
with unflagging fervor. 

Meantime, the number of volunteers assembled at Camp 
Harrison had largely increased. Colonel McCook's German 
regiment came out on the 24th of April ; the " Montgomery 
regiment " followed, but in detachments — for the Tenth Ohio 
was a somewhat heterogeneous body, and in its formation en- 
countered unusual difficulties ; other companies, afterward in- 
corporated into the Fifth Ohio, also took up quarters in camp ; 
and thus, by the beginning of May, the " Cincinnati Brigade " 
was completed. The duty of mustering these troops was as- 
signed to Captain Gordon Granger, of the regular army, who 
arrived in Cincinnati on the 26th of April, and, hastening 



36 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

out to Camp Harrison, mustered every company of the Ger- 
man regiment before tattoo. On Saturday, the 27th, the 
Guthrie Grey regiment was mustered ; comparatively few were 
rejected, and they were indeed objects of universal commisera- 
tion. Many amusing stratagems were practiced for the con- 
ciliation of the inspector. One of the officers, an old member 
of the Guthrie Grey battalion, had been left at home, pros- 
trated by an attack of fever. He was just convalescing, when 
word was brought that the mustering officer was in camp, and 
he must be on hand .next day, if possible. Painting his 
cheeks to hide their pallor, he rode out to camp in a hack, 
managed to keep his feet throughout the inspection, and, pass- 
ing muster without a query, afterward became one of the most 
efficient subalterns in the brigade. 

The following is a roster of the Sixth Ohio in the three- 
months' service. The field officers were elected April 24th : 

Field and Staff — Colonel, William K. Bosley ; Lieutenant- 
Colonel, Eliphalet Loring ; Major, Alexander C. Christopher; 
Adjutant, Nicholas L. Anderson; Quartermaster, Edward M. 
Shoemaker ; Surgeon, Starling Loving ; Assistant-Surgeon, 
Fisher W. Ames. 

Company A — Captain, Marcus A. Westcott ; First Lieuten- 
ant, John M. Wilson ; Second Lieutenant, Henry Mc Alpin. 

Company B — Captain, Julian White; First Lieutenant, J. 
Willis Wilmington ; Second Lieutenant, Thomas S. Royse. 

Company C — Captain, John C. Lane ; First Lieutenant, 
John A. Asbury ; Second Lieutenant, Charles H. Titus. 

Company D — Captain, Frank H. Ehrman ; First Lieu- 
tenant, John C. Parker ; Second Lieutenant, Ezekiel H. 
Tatem. 

Company E — Captain, Samuel C. Erwin ; First Lieutenant, 
John F. Hoy ; Second Lieutenant, Lewis S. Worthington. 



THE three-months' SERVICE. 37 

Company F — Captain, G. Sliillito Smith ; First Lieutenant, 
Charles H. Brutton; Second Lieutenant, Charles H. Heron. 

Company G — Captain, Anthony O. Russell ; First Lieuten- 
ant, William S. Getty ; Second Lieutenant, Jules J. Mon- 
tagu ier. 

Company H — Captain, Henry H. Tinker ; First Lieuten- 
ant, John W. Morgan ; Second Lieutenant, Edgar M. John- 
eon. 

Company I — Captain, James Bense ; First Lieutenant, 
Richard Southgate ; Second Lieutenant, Charles F. Porter. 

Company K — Captain, Julius C. Guthrie; First Lieuten- 
ant, Frank M. Hulburd ; Second Lieutenant, Augustus B. 
Billerbeck. 

At this date the regiment numbered scarcely eight hundred 
men, or about two hundred and fifty less than the maximum 
strength prescribed by the War Department a few days later.* 
Colonel Bosley at once detailed a recruiting party, but al- 
though the Guthrie Grey armory in Cincinnati was again 
thrown open, and a number of recruits obtained, the strength 
of the Sixth Ohio, in the three-months' service, never much 
exceeded nine hundred men. 

The first half of May was characterized by an unusual amount 
of wet and chilly weather. A rain, which set in on the evening 
of the 2d, and continued all the next day, was particularly 
the cause of great discomfort. The " shanties " leaked at al- 
most every joint ; they had no floors, and in many of them 
the men awoke during the night to find themselves lying in 
puddles of water ; and, to add to the general discontent, some 

* General Orders No. 15, dated May 4th, 1861, fixed the maximum at 
1,046 men. It is impossible to give the exact strength of the three- 
months' regiment, as the only muster-rolls ever made out are either lost or 
buried among the files of the War Department at Washington. 



38 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

changes in the commissary arrangements at camp, which took 
place just at this time, occasioned what the men considered a 
scarcity of rations. A year later, the same troops, under far 
more disadvantageous circumstances, would have made them- 
selves perfectly comfortable, but now, officers and men were 
alike green, and their complaints were loud and bitter. Sym- 
pathizing friends repeated the story of their woes, and the 
Cincinnati papers discussed the sad details in lugubrious edi- 
torials. When the Sabbath came, May 5th, many congrega- 
tions were appealed to from the pulpit for contributions of 
food and clothing for the suifering volunteers, and, within an 
hour. General Lytle's head-quarters were besieged by an anx- 
ious throng, laden with parcels, boxes, bundles, and baskets, 
and blankets by the hundred. Acceptable as the relief was, 
it had an injurious effect when continued for days after all 
need had passed away, and eventually the troops suffered in 
important soldierly qualities from the well-meant but injudi- 
cious pampering of friends. 

The ennui which naturally succeeded as soon as the novelty 
of camp life wore off, was greatly relieved by the visits of 
friends and occasional passes to the city ; for the rest, the men 
were thrown upon their own resources. These, among the 
Guthries, were ready and varied enough — boxing, fencing, gym- 
nastic exercises, town-ball, base-ball, and other active sports ; 
cards, checkers, and chess ; amateur negro minstrel and circus 
performances, etc. For the more refined tastes, there were 
readings and recitations by a few admirable elocutionists, pre- 
eminent among whom was Corporal William E. Sheridan, 
who had given up a good situation at Pike's Opera House to 
enlist in Company B. In a lighter vein, private Alfred 
Burnett, of Company G, had no rival, and his " delineations " 
were never better received than here among his comrades at 



THE three-months' seevice. 39 

Camp Harrison. Music and merriment regularly ruled the 
hour in many squads, until broken in upon by the sounds of 
tattoo; and, every thing considered, the "bully Ninth," ^Yith 
all the lager which patriotic Teutons supplied without stint, 
were hardly more at ease or better contented than were the 
Guthrie Greys. 

For weeks the troops at Camp Harrison anxiously awaited 
marching orders. At first all eyes were turned toward Wash- 
ington and the Potomac, but as the vast length of that line 
which marked the boundary of hostile territory, began to be 
realized, diverse and ever-shifting rumors associated with the 
Capital the Western names of Cairo and Missouri. It is 
creditable to both officers and men, that, in spite of consid- 
erable delay in obtaining arms and uniforms, a good degree 
of interest in the duties of camp routine was still kept up, and 
some progress made in forming soldiers out of raw volunteers. 
At length, on the 16th of May, 3,500 stand of arms were dis- 
tributed at Camp Harrison, and the Greys received a full 
armament of 853 muskets, and were also furnislied 414 uni- 
forms of the distinctive pattern, in gray cloth, of the old bat- 
talion, which were paid for by private contributions. The 
regiment was now in buoyant spirits, which the reception of 
bona fide marching orders greatly heightened, though indicat- 
ing nothing more than a removal to Camp Dennison. Start- 
ing at seven o'clock on Friday morning. May 17th, the Sixth 
Ohio marched through Cumminsville, and down Spring Grove 
Avenue to Brighton, and thence to the corner of Seventh and 
Elm Streets, where it was broken into column by platoon, 
stretching from curb to curb, and, with Menter's Band at tlie 
head, took up its line of march through the heart of Cia- 
cinnati. 

A full regiment of armed men being a novel and imposing 



40 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

spectacle for those days, the streets were thronged with cheer- 
ing crowds along the entire route, and at the corner of Fourth 
and Vine Streets, where a densely-packed assemblage had gath- 
ered, the volunteers received a perfect ovation.* Says the 
Cincinnati Commercial, of the next morning : " The appear- 
ance of the regiment was decidedly soldier-like, imposing, and 
impressive. The step was regular and steady, the alignment 
of each platoon was well maintained, distances were well pre- 
served, and the wheel and turn executed with a precision that 
proved the four weeks spent in camp had not been thrown 
away. Four companies were uniformed, two on each flank ; 
the remainder wore shirts of uniform color, and nearly all 
were furnished with caps, so that the appearance of those not 
fully equipped was by no means unpleasing. 

"As the head of the column arrived opposite the residence 
of Larz Anderson, Esq., at the corner of Pike and Third 
Streets, Colonel Anderson f appeared upon the steps, and ex- 
changed salutes with the officers. When the colors approached, 
he passed out to the curb, and stood with uncovered head 
while they dipped, and so remained until the rear of the regi- 
ment had passed. 

"At the depot an immense throng of fathers and mothers, 
brothers and sisters, wives and sweethearts, greeted the volun- 

* Mr. William P. Noble, the well-known artist in water-colors (who was 
an old member of the Greys, and, in 1860, a lieutenant in one of the 
companies), contributed a spirited sketch of this scene to Harper sWeekly. 
The line of march through the city was as follows: From the Brighton 
House do\\Ti Central Avenue to Seventh, east on Seventh to Elm, south 
on Elm to Fourth, east on Fourth to Vine, south on Vine to Third, east 
on Third to Main, north on Main to Fourth, east on Fourth to Pike, south 
on Pike to Front, east on Front to the Little Miami Depot 

f This was the honored defender of Fort Sumter, who had arrived in 
Cincinnati on the preceding day. 



THE THEEE-MONTHS' SEEVICE. 41 

tccrs. Each, anxious to see his own particular loved one, 
pushed, crowded, and elbowed about, regardless of the rights, 
liberties, and corns of his neighbors. In the general squabble, 
coats were torn, trowsers fractured, and hoops crushed like 
egg-shells. As the whistle sounded, pictures were given, 
pocket money supplied, and kisses exchanged. But finding 
that the cars did not move, many entered them, determined to 
have the last word possible. Among these was a bevy of 
young ladies who stuck to the B's closer than brothers, and 
adroitly managed to let the cars carry them oif. Despite their 
protestations, it was easy to see that the girls were happy as 
little birds. Of course the good-by and kissing part of the 
programme was repeated ad libitum.^' 

The regiment reached Camp Dennison about one o'clock, 
nearly an hour behind the Tenth Ohio, which had marched 
across the country, and felt quite proud of the achievement. 
The Fifth and Ninth regiments following next day. Camp 
Harrison was broken up, after an occupation of exactly four 
weeks. 

Camp Dennison, situated on the Little Miami, Columbus 
and Xenia Railroad, fifteen miles from Cincinnati, was a well- 
chosen location, with the important advantages, among others, 
of accessibility, abundance of water, and ample space. The 
site was selected by General McClellan, then commanding the 
Department of the Ohio, and leased on the 27th of April. 
The camp was laid off by Captain Rosecrans, formerly a reg- 
ular officer in the Engineer Corps, and, at the outbreak of 
the war, a fellow-townsman with General McClellan, upon 
whose staff he was now serving, though without regular ap- 
pointment. The Camp Dennison regiments, and indeed the 
whole country, were to know more of him by and by. The 
first body of troops which rendezvoused at Camp Dennison 



42 THE STOHY OF A REGIMENT. 

consisted of fifteen companies (the Eleventh Ohio and five 
companies of the Third), transferred thither from Columbus, 
on the 29th of Aprih The "Cincinnati Brigade" was of- 
ficially designated the First. The Second Brigade, comprising 
the Fourth, Seventh, Eighth and Eleventh Ohio, and the 
Third Brigade, composed of the Third, Twelfth, and Thir- 
teenth Ohio, were earlier on the ground. These brigades were 
respectively commanded by Brigadier-Generals Joshua H. 
Bates, Jacob D. Cox, and Newton Schleich (all of the old 
volunteer militia), and numbered, in all, a little over ten thou- 
sand men. To General Bates, as the senior officer, now fell the 
direction of affairs at Camp Dennison, and General Cox, who 
had previously discharged the duties of post commandant, 
returned to the command of his brigade. 

The new-comers were assigned pleasant quarters on the op- 
posite side of the railroad from the Second and Third Brigades, 
between the railroad track and the Little Miami River, which 
ran a few score rods directly in the rear. The Sixth Ohio 
took the right of the long line of cantonments, and the Ninth 
Ohio the left. All were soon perfectly at home in their new 
location ; the Greys, from their peculiar uniforms, their prestige, 
and the decidedly chivalrous bearing of some of their number, 
becominp; at once the observed of all observers. For a time, 
their dress parade was the event of the day for~visitors at 
camp, but disintegration came with the three-years' question, 
and then their parades were deserted for the well-trodden 
drill-grounds of the Ninth Ohio. 

In nothing, perhaps, was the refinement and spirit charac- 
teristic of the Guthrie regiment shown more pleasingly than 
in the neatness and taste with which the men fitted up their 
quarters at Camp Dennison. Many of the rough, wooden 
"shanties" were transformed into the likeness of pleasant 



THE three-months' SERVICE. 43 

country cottages, by means of lattice-work porches, cornices of 
various patterns, pigeon-houses, and similar ornamentation. 
Xearly every squad had its own distinctive title, the most 
common names being those of somewhat obvious suggestion, 
like the "Astor House," the ^'Burnett," the "Major Ander- 
son," the "Stars and Stripes," etc. Inters^^ersed with these, 
however, were many less tame and common-place, such as the 
" Cradle," the " Charter Oak," the "Tigers," and the " Eagle's 
Nest." 

On the 29th of May, John Bliven, a member of Company 
D, was drowned in the Little Miami River, and was buried 
next day. This was the first death in the Sixth Ohio. The 
general health of the regiment was excellent, from the very 
first. 

Meantime, the tramp of Northern troops marching south- 
ward to confront rebellion on its own ground, came echoing 
from the hills of Western Virginia. About four o'clock in 
the afternoon of May 26th, General McClellan, at that hour 
at Camp Dennison, received a dispatch, informing him that 
the secessionists had burned two bridges on the Baltimore 
and Ohio Hailroad, and were preparing to destroy several 
others westward to Wheeling. This startling intelligence hast- 
ened movements which had been in contemplation for some 
days. Returning at once to Cincinnati, General McClellan 
telegraphed orders for an advance into Western Virginia, fol- 
lowing them immediately by two stirring proclamations — one to 
the Unionists of that region, and the other to the soldiers un- 
der his command. Next day, the Fifteenth and Sixteenth 
Ohio crossed the Ohio River at Bellair, and, joining the First 
Virginia, which had rendezvoused at Camp Carlile, near 
Wheeling, the whole force moved out the Baltimore and Ohio 



44 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

Railroad toward Grafton, under command of Colonel B. F. 
Kelley, of the regiment last named. Simultaneously, another 
column, under Colonel Steedman, of the Fourteenth Ohio, 
crossed at Marietta, took the cars at Parkersburg, and pro- 
ceeded along the North-western Virginia Railroad toward the 
same place. Among the earliest of the reenforcements that 
Governors Morton, and Dennison promptly began pushing for- 
ward, were the Sixth and Ninth Indiana, which left Indian- 
apolis, May 30th. 

Passing through Cincinnati in the afternoon, the Sixth 
Indiana reached Camp Dennison about sundown, and, shelter- 
less, prejiared to pass the night. The men were dusty and 
weary, and, worst of all, their haversacks were empty. In a 
short time, the camp was all astir, and especially the quar- 
ters of the Sixth Ohio, in which the men turned out en 
masse, furnished the Indianians a bountiful supper, and stuffed 
their haversacks with rations for the next day.* In those 
early days of the war, little things were great, so that the en- 
thusiasm of the whole North was rekindled, when, a few days 
later, it read of the night march to Philippi which resulted 
in the surprise and rout of Colonel Porterfield's nondescript 
chivalry in the gray of an early summer morning. While 
the story possessed a fascination beyond romance for all the 
troops at Camp Dennison, the Guthries entered into it with 
the zest of a personal interest : their Indiana guests, of only 
three nights before, had had their full share in the adventure. 
Thenceforward, Western Virginia w^as the laud of promise for 
the impatient volunteers. 

* These hospitalities are gratefully acknowledged in the sketch of the 
Sixth Indiana, given in Indiana's Boll of Honor^ Volume I. 



REORGANIZATION. 45 



CHAPTER III. 

REORGANIZATION. 

(MAY 24-JUNE 28, 1861.) 

OEVERAL days before the date referred to at the close of 
^^ the last chapter, Camp Dennison was thrown into a fer- 
ment of excitement by the broaching of the three-years' ques- 
tion — that of reenlistment " for three years or during the war." 
Reorganization was attended with many difficulties, which all 
the efforts of the State Executive and the functionaries at 
camp succeeded only partially in removing. One of the prin- 
cipal of these related to the appointment of officers. In the 
three-months' service the volunteers had exercised the privi- 
lege of militia to elect their own commanders, while, under the 
orders of the President, and in accordance with army regulations, 
the appointing power was now vested solely in the Governor 
of the State. There was much discussion and wide-spread dis- 
satisfaction when these regulations came to be fully under- 
stood ; and, as the true policy of the authorities evidently was 
to secure to the service as much as possible of the material 
which was now rapidly assuming the character of an army, it 
was wisely decided to retain the general organizations of the 
regiments, and, except when manifestly inexpedient, to consult 
the preferences of the men in granting commissions. There 
were other difficulties, mainly of individual operation, which 



46 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

were not so easily obviated : personal jealousies and disap- 
pointments ; the prospect of more rapid advancement in new 
organizations; the reaction, amounting to weariness, or even 
disgust, on the part of some fickle minds, whom the great wave 
of popular excitement in the first instance had carried into 
camp ; and the urgent demands of domestic or other duties, in 
some instances even outweighing the promptings of a fervent 
patriotism. 

Adjutant-General Buckingham graphically describes still 
another serious perplexity which the authorities experienced, 
as follows : " When the three-years' recruits began to come 
in, it was found that the presence of the three-months' men, 
who had declined to reenlist, was the cause of much incon- 
venience, and greatly tended to demoralize the entire force. 
The quarters were crowded, jealousies sjjrang up, doubts arose 
as to the rights of the diflerent classes of ti-oops, ill-feeling 
was engendered, and general insubordination, in most regi- 
ments, was the result. It became absolutely necessary to sep- 
arate the three-months' men from the others. Instead of 
mustering them out of the service, however, as would seem to 
have been the proper method, no directions were received from 
the War Department as to the disposition to be made of them, 
though sought by the Governor and officers often and ear- 
nestly. At length the colonels of the regiments took the 
responsibility of sending their three-months' men home, on 
furlough, till further orders." The mismanagement that 
characterized this whole matter, for several months after- 
ward exercised a inost unfortunate effect upon recruiting in 
Ohio. 

On the 29th of May, the German regiment — the staunch 
and trusty old Ninth Ohio — re-mustered almost to a man, thus 
becoming one of the very first regiments in the whole country 



REORGAXIZATIOX. 47 

to commit itself to a three-years' service.* The Tenth Ohio 
mustered about one week later. At the evening dress parade 
of the Guthrie Greys, on the 24th of May, Adjutant Ander- 
son made a short address, explaining the new call for troops, 
and urging the command, by every consideration of patriotism, 
to rciinlist. But, in addition to the usual difficulties attend- 
ing reorganization, it was soon discovered that the spirit of 
personal independence, and even the intelligence upon which 
the members prided themselves, were certain to prove great 
hindrances in regard to the Guthries. The regiment lost 
prestige rapidly. Many who were loud in their laudations a 
few weeks earlier, suddenly ranged themselves with its most 
unreasoning denouncers; in fact, it was only after the Sixth 
Ohio had been marching and fighting at the front, for many 
months continuously, that one class of patriotic souls, pos- 
sessed in perfect quiet at home, began to comprehend the 
truth that these things could hardly be the work of " feather- 
bed soldiers." 

For the Sixth Ohio, spite of all discouragements and proph- 
ecies of dissolution, did reorganize with full ranks — young 
men almost exclusively, in sound health, active and intelligent. 
On the 10th of June field officers were voted for. Colonel 
Bosley being reelected after a spirited canvass, in which many 
had shown a strong preference for Hon. Stanley M. Matthews. 
Captain Gordon Granger and Professor Ormsby M. Mitchel, 
had also been spoken of for the colonelcy, but declined being 
candidates, and a few weeks afterward both were commissioned 
Brigadier-Generals. Company G (Captain Anthony O. Rus- 

* The only complete three-years' organization mustered in at an earlier 
date, 80 far as the writer has any information upon the subject, was the 
Second Michigan Infantry, which mustered on the 25th of May, 1,017 
strong. 



48 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

sell's), which was the first oue ready, was mustered into the 
three-years' service on Monday, June 17th, by Lieutenant T. 
W. Walker, of the regular army. By the evening of the next 
day the regimental organization was completed, though recruits 
continued to offer themselves for some days afterward, and 
were welcomed as long as any place remained for them. 

Meanwhile the reorganized regiments began moving toward 
Western Virginia. The Ninth Ohio left for Clarksburg on 
the morning of Sunday, June 16th, accompanied by Captain 
Loomis' battery, from Coldwater, Michigan, which had been 
resting at Camp Dennison for the previous two weeks, and 
was destined to a long and brilliant career in the field. The 
Third and Fourth Ohio followed on the 21st, and a detach- 
ment of Burdsal's cavalry on the night of the 23d. General 
McClellan, whose escort the latter were to be, had preceded 
them in a special train, three days before, and was in personal 
command in the field. At noon of the 24th, the Tenth Ohio 
took its departure. "With their own new banner, presented 
them two days ago, waving above them, and escorted by the 
Sixth Ohio to the cars, the Montgomeries," says one account, 
" were a proud set of fellows, and as happy as if going to a 
wake." The Sixth daily grew more and more impatient ; but, 
happily, the routine of drills and camp duty, into which the 
regiment had again settled, afforded neither officers nor men 
much time for idleness, while it was still enlivened by frequent 
interchanges of visits with friends, etc., as well as extraordinary 
occasions in the line of duty. On the 17th of June, General 
McClellan reviewed the First Brigade, which had just suffered 
the loss of the well-trained Ninth, and expressed himself well 
pleased with its progress in drill. A much greater event to 
the Sixth Ohio, however, was the reception, on the 24th, of a 
regimental banner, presented by Kev. Kingston Goddard, 



EEOEGAXIZATION. 49 

rector of Christ Church, on behalf of the ladies of Cincinnati, 
and accepted, on the part of the regiment, by Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Anderson. The banner, which Avas originally intended 
for the three-months' organization, was six feet square, made 
of the finest silk, and bore this inscription, in elegant embroid- 
ery : " Guthrie Greys, Sixth Regiment — Ohio." It was borne 
through all the campaigns of the regiment up to within three 
weeks of the battle of Stone E-iver, then being replaced by 
another, the gift of the City of Cincinnati. 

The following were the officers with whom the Sixth Ohio 
took the field, their commissions bearing date June 12th, al- 
though not received until some days later : 

Field and Staff — Colonel, William K. Bosley ; Lieutenant- 
Colonel, Nicholas L. Anderson ; Major, Alexander C. Christo- 
pher; Adjutant, Charles H. Heron; Quartermaster, Edward 
M. Shoemaker; Surgeon, Starling Loving; Assistant-Surgeon, 
Fisher W. Ames. 

Company A — Captain, Marcus A. "Westcott; First Lieuten- 
ant, Henry McAlpin ; Second Lieutenant, James INI. Donovan. 

Company B — Captain, Joseph A. Andrews; First Lieuten- 
ant, Charles B. Russell ; Second Lieutenant, Thomas S. 
Royse. 

Company C — Captain, J. Willis Wilmington ; First Lieu- 
tenant, Frank H. Ehrman ; Second Lieutenant, Charles Gil- 
man. In this company none of the three-months' officers 
remained. 

Company D — Captain, Ezckiel H. Tatera ; First Lieuten- 
ant, John C. Parker ; Second Lieutenant, Thomas H. Boylan. 

Company E — Captain, Samuel C. Erwin ; First Lieutenant, 
John F. Hoy ; Second Lieutenant, George W. Morris. 

Company F — Captain, Charles H. Brutton ; First Lieuten- 
4 



50 THE STORY OF A EEGIMEXT. 

ant, vacancy, occasioned by Lieutenant Heron's appointment 
as Adjutant; Second Lieutenant, Frank S. Schieffer. 

Company G — Captain, Anthony O. Russell ; First Lieuten- 
ant, "\yilliara S. Getty ; Second Lieutenant, Jules J. Mon- 
tagnier — the same officers throughout as in the three-months' 
service. 

Company H — Captain, Henry H. Tinker ; First Lieuten- 
ant, John W. Morgan ; Second Lieutenant, Solomon Bidwell. 

Company I — Captain, James Bense ; First Lieutenant, 
Eichard South gate ; Second Lieutenant, Benjamin F. West. 

Company Iv — Captain, Charles M. Clarke; First Lieuten- 
ant, Augustus B. Billerbeck; Second Lieutenant, Justin M. 
Thatcher. 

jSTon-coramissioned Staff — Sergeant-Major, William P. An- 
derson ; Quartermaster-Sergeant, Charles C. Peck ; Hospital 
Steward, John A. West ; Chief Musicians, Jacob A. Fifer and 
Benjamin F. Phillips. 

With the leading incidents in Colonel Bosley's career the 
reader is already acquainted. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Nicholas L. Anderson — a grandson of 
Nicholas Longworth, and a nephew of General Robert Ander- 
son, and also of Colonel Charles Anderson, ex-Governor of Ohio 
— was born in Cincinnati, April 22d, 1838. He graduated with 
distinction at Harvard College, in 1858, after a four-years' 
course, and immediately went to Europe, where he remained 
about two years, improving the time in travel and studies at 
the German universities. Induced to return home in the win- 
ter of 1860-61, by the disturbed condition of affairs in this 
country, he began the study of the law, in the office of Hon. 
Stanley M. Matthews, in Cincinnati. His membership in the 
Guthrie Grey battalion, as also his connection with the three- 



EEORGANIZATIOX. 51 

months' regiment, as adjutant, has been ah'eady noted. From 
this date onward, for three years of most honorable service at 
the front. Colonel Anderson's identity is merged in that of the 
regiment which he commanded. 

Alexander C. Christopher, the first ISIajor of the Sixth 
Ohio, is a life-long resident of Cincinnati, Avhere he was born 
on the 20th of August, 1823. He was educated at the old 
Woodward College, the original of one of the Queen. City's 
most honored educational institutions. From 1851 to 1858, 
he was engaged in mercantile pursuits. He was one of the 
earliest contributing members enrolled by the company of 
Guthrie Greys, but soon exchanged this connection for an act- 
ive membership, which he resigned in March, 1861, after three 
or four years' continuous service as lieutenant and captain, and 
was then transferred to the life honorary roll. At the out- 
break of the war, he held the office of deputy sheriff cf 
Hamilton County, but promptly vacated it, to accompany the 
Guthrie Grey regiment to Camp Harrison, in the capacity of 
first lieutenant of Company D. A few days after going into 
camp, however, he was appointed major, and, at the reorgani- 
zation of the regiment, was again elected by a unanimous vote. 

Dr. Starling Loving is a native of Kentucky, but in early 
life removed to Columbus, Ohio, where he graduated at the 
Starling Medical College, in 184&; soon after which, he re- 
ceived the appointment/ of house surgeon to Bellevue Hos- 
pital, New York. This position he retained but a short time, 
in March, 1850, becoming assistant physician to Black well's 
Island Hospital. , Here his health suffered so severely that, in 
November, 1851, he was compelled to resign; but, upon his 
return, after an absence of sixteen months in the West Indies, 
he was again appointed at Blackwell's Island Hospital, as 
house surgeon. From June, 1853, to the autumn of 1854, 



52 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

he was engaged, at Panama, as surgeon to the Panama Pail- 
road Company. In December of the year last named, Dr. 
Loving returned to Columbus, where his professional attain- 
ments at once secured him a very large practice, and a fore- 
most j)lace among the medical fraternity of Ohio. After an 
examination by the State Medical Board, he was commissioned 
Surgeon of the Sixth Ohio, on the 2d of May, 1861, and 
joined it almost immediately. In the reorganization of the 
regiment. Dr. Loving discharged his duties as medical in- 
spector of the recruits with great fidelity ; and to his care in 
the selection of its materials, and the enforcement of hygienic 
regulations when it first took the field, its remarkable health- 
fulness must, in large measure, be attributed. 

Dr. Fisher W. Ames was born in Cincinnati, November 21st, 
1821, and received his education at Woodward High School. 
In 1842, he began the study of medicine, which he further pros- 
ecuted in the office of Dr. John P. Harrison, and finally grad- 
uated at the Ohio Medical College, of which institution that 
distinguished practitioner was then president. After practic- 
ing for two years in his native city, he emigrated to Califor- 
nia, in the sp'ing of 1849, and remained there rather more 
than two years, during most of which time he was a resident 
of Sacramento City, where he carried on the drug business, in 
connection with his professional duties. While at Sacramento 
he assisted in organizing the first Masonic lodge in Califor- 
nia, working under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of 
Connecticut. Peturning to Cincinnati, in September, 1851, 
Dr. Ames continued in active practice, with a few unimpor- 
tant interruptions, until the breaking out of the war. His 
connection with the Sixth Ohio dated from the 24th of April, 
1861. 

Adjutant Charles Hetherington Heron was born in Edin- 



EEORGAXIZATION. 53 

burgh, Scotlaud, June 15th, 1834, and, "when in his thirteenth 
year, emigrated to America. In 1851, after a residence of 
about four years in Trumbull County, Ohio, he came to Cin- 
cinnati, where he engaged in the wholesale hardware business, 
as clerk. Joining the company of Independent Guthrie Greys 
immediately upon its formation, he became one of its most 
active members, and remained closely identified with the his- 
tory of that corps for several years, or until retired upon the 
life honorary roll. His reelection as an active member, in 
April, 1861, together with his services in placing the Greys 
upon a war footing, has been adverted to in a preceding chap- 
ter. Upon the organization of the Sixth Ohio Regiment, he 
was elected second lieutenant of Company F, and at its reor- 
ganization for the three-years' service was advanced to a first 
lieutenancy. This was immediately followed by his a})point- 
ment as adjutant, a position for which he possessed peculiar 
qualifications and which he filled with great acceptability to 
the regiment. 

Lieutenant Edward M. Shoemaker, Regimental Quartermas- 
ter, was born on the 11th of January, 1826, in Cumberland 
County, New Jersey, whence his parents removed, in 1830, 
and settled in Cincinnati. For some time after his graduation 
at " Old Woodward," he was engaged in farming, living, 
meanwhile, with his parents, about two miles from the city. 
In 1848, he married the daughter of Peter Usher (widely 
known among the older merchants of Cincinnati as the pioneer 
in the coffee-roasting and spice-packing business at the AVest), 
and during the following year became a partner in the firm 
of Dixon & Shoemaker, Mr. Usher's successors. Disposing 
of his interest in that business in 1852, he was employed as 
passenger conductor on the Little Miami Railroad until the 
outbreak of the war. At that period he had been an active 



54 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

member of the Guthrie Greys since 1856. In connection 
with Lieutenants Getty and Montagnier, he organized Com- 
pany G, of the three-months' Sixth Ohio Regiment, and 
marched with it to Camp Harrison as captain, but ahiiost im- 
mediately turned over the command to Captain A. O. Russell, 
an old Guthrie Grey, just arrived from the South, and, at 
Colonel Bosley's request, accepted the appointment of regi- 
mental quartermaster. 



TO THE FRONT. 55 



CHAPTER ly. 
MOVING TO THE FRONT." 

(JUNE 28-JULY 0, 1861.) 

rr^PIE much wished-for marching orders coming at last, they 
-*- were read at dress parade, on Saturday, June 29th, amid 
the inauspicious surroiaidings of a dtirk and lowering sky, and 
a camp so strangely quiet as to seem almost deserted. Three 
days' rations being issued immediately afterward, the sup- 
pressed din of packing up, with the flare of camp fires, at 
which negro cooks were exhausting the resources of culi- 
nary science, as applied iu boiling hams and the like abstruse 
processes, continued far on into the night. Before morning 
rain began falling, and the Sabbath dawned upon a cheerless 
scene of fog, and mud, and universal wet; nevertheless, a few 
friends ventured out from Cincinnati to take their last fare- 
wells and see the regiment oif. The forenoon wore tediously 
away ; for although a train of cars stood ready at the station, 
it was assigned to the Thirteenth Ohio (Colonel William Sooy 
Smith's regiment), which started about eleven o'clock, destined 
for the Kanawha region, by way of Marietta and Parkersburg. 
Gn the preceding evening, the remaining detachment of Burd- 
sal's cavalry company, numbering about forty men, had gone for- 
ward, under command of Lieutenant Minor Milliken, what with 
their horses and cumbrous equipage quite filling a special train. 



56 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

At 1 o'clock the welcome command " Fall in ! " passed along 
the companies, and the regiment was then escorted to the 
depot by the Fifth Ohio, a gallant command, which, although 
the most tardy in taking the field, returned at last with such 
a bead-roll of slain heroes as, happily, no other regiment could 
rival in the original Cincinnati Brigade. There was some 
delay in embarking, though without confusion, and, meantime, 
the sky cleared, permitting the sun to shine out freshly once 
more. The crowd of soldiers and citizens collected at the rail- 
road crossing seemed far from demonstrative at first, yet when 
the long train moved slowly off, there was no lack of hearty 
cheers, the waving of hats, and the flutter of handkerchiefs. The 
Sixth was now fairly en route for the seat of war, supplied with 
a number of wagons and almost a full allowance of equipage, 
excepting tents. The regiment, at this date, had an aggregate 
strength of 1,031 men.* 

The weather was exhilarating, and still more so the occasion, 
all the circumstances of which seemed conspiring to make the 

* These figures have been obtained from a laborious examination of the 
final muster-out rolls on file at the Adjutant-General's office at Columbus. 
Complete sets of the original muster-in rolls are not now in existence, un- 
less it be at Washington. It is doubtful, however, whether even these 
would furnish perfectly reliable data, from the fact that nearly every 
company received a greater or less number of recruits after its muster as 
a body, in some cases as much as four days subsequently ; and it would 
evidence a degree of exactness rarely attained at that period of the war, 
if these additional names should all appear upon the original rolls. This 
seems to ,be the proper place for correcting two inaccuracies that occur 
in the report of the Adjutant-General of Ohio, for 1863, and which have 
been copied into that for 186.5, namely, the statement that the Sixth 
started for the field on the first of July, and the graver' error of putting 
the original strength of the regiment at 931 men. Possibly this number 
has reference to the three-months' term, but such is not the connection. 



TO THE FEONT. 57 

trip a delightful one, at least as far as Columbus. Every-wliere 
along the road the appearance of the ponderous train was the 
signal for lively manifestations of good-will and patriotism. No 
member of the regiment, between whom and home the lengthen- 
ing miles were stretching further and further every moment, but 
will recollect the enthusiasm and delight of the sable populace 
of Xenia, and the buckets of delicious ice-water which accom- 
panied the welcome of the citizens of London. It was just 
dark when the train clattered over the bridge spanning the 
Scioto, and entered Columbus. Indulging a pleasant fancy, 
which had its origin in some vague report before the regiment 
was fairly out of Camp Dennison, the hungry troops had pic- 
tured to themselves a bounteous supper here awaiting them. 
But, " alas, hope is not prophecy ! " Great was the disappoint- 
ment, therefore, when it became evident, as it speedily did, that 
the regiment was wholly unheralded, and provided for with 
nothing, save redoubled guards to keep it on board the cars. 

About nine o'clock the train crept through the Columbus 
depot, and while it rumbled along in the damp and darkness, 
over the Central Ohio Railroad, a thousand weary forms, 
knotting themselves into all sorts of unimagined shapes, reso- 
lutely strove to sleep, in spite of aches and cramps, and joltings 
incessant. Thus Newark and Zanesville were passed. ISIany 
were still soundly napping when the train halted at Cambridge, 
an hour after daylight, to wood and water. Squads of un- 
breakfosted adventurers at once began exploring the vicinity, 
but finding no place to enter, soon returned to the cars, with 
a very pronounced opinion that the metropolis of Guernsey 
County was a tumble-down, unenterprising country town. But 
these unpleasant impressions were wholly effaced at the next 
stopping-placfe, the village of Belmont, where the train was 
delayed for four hours while a bridge was repairing at Glen- 



58 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

coe, niue miles east, that Lieutenant Milliken's cavalry train 
had broken through the night before. Who of the Sixth, 
that recalls the reminiscences of Belmont — synonym for hos- 
pitality and charming. Union-loving lassies — can do so with- 
out a feeling of gratitude and pride ? The loyal villagers, 
equally open with heart and house, made it a day of doom for 
untold quantities of coffee and biscuits, butter and eggs, spread 
upon their hospitable boards ; and while, with marvelous rap- 
idity, these were disappearing, flowers and flirtations, produced 
as if by magic, became the animating experience of hundreds 
of boys in blue. One wealthy citizen entertained more than 
a hundred Guthries, after which Sheridan, (at that time First 
Sergeant of Company F,) from the capacious verandah, recited 
" Sharaus O'Brien " and other selections, to the intense grati- 
fication of a large crowd assembled below. Music and singing 
lent their aid to the enjoyments of the hour, but suddenly 
the locomotive whistle screamed, and all was ended. Yet not 
all, for not only were addresses and fervent good-byes ex- 
changed — many of them audibly ratified by other means than 
words — but letters post-marked " Belmont " followed the Sixth 
through all its wanderings ; nor would it be surprising if some 
of its members were in receipt of the same delicate missives 
to this day. 

As the train rounded the curve by which Bellair is entered, 
the hills of Virginia came in sight, the shadows already creep- 
ing up their sides, for it was nearly seven o'clock. Disembark- 
ing at once, the companies in succession were ferried across 
the Ohio, and many earnest congratulations passed from mouth 
to mouth, that at length the regiment stood upon the "sacred 
soil" — the now disputed soil — of the Old Dominion. At Bel- 
lair, Company B waited four hours to exchange its old muskets 
for an armament of Enfield rifles, to which, as being a flank- 



TO THE FRiJXT. 59 

ing company, it was entitled ; so that it was within an hour 
of midnight when it rejoined its comrades, where they hiy un- 
der their stacked arras, shivering but snoring, on the floor of 
the freight depot at Ben wood, on the Virginia shore. Between 
one and two o'clock in the morning the sleepers were roused, 
and forming in line as rapidly as the darkness and confusion 
would permit, the men clambered into the freight cars backed 
up to receive them. Fifty-six thousand rounds of ammunition 
were next taken on board, and soon every man was busy in 
manipulating his first supply of cartridges. Though rumors 
of guerrillas were rife, no guards were seen until reaching 
Cameron, from whence, eastward, the Twentieth Ohio was found 
scattered along the railroad, with detachments, nearer Grafton, 
from one or two other commands. A short delay at Cameron 
afforded sufficient time for some of the Sixth to become the 
guests of the little garrison, veterans of a five-weeks' cam- 
paign, whose adventures furnished the principal theme of dis- 
cussion for an hour afterward. As the day advanced, the sun 
shone out with power, the fogs lifted from the valleys, and the 
almost alpine character of the scenery — wild, rugged hill-sides, 
crowned with the dark green verdure of pine and hemlock, 
with now and then a little glen, where a hamlet of frame, or, 
oftener, log-built houses, clustered cosily, and the clear sparkle 
of a purling mountain stream, seldom out of sight for a whole 
mile together — formed a panorama of Nature, in her robust 
and untamed beauty, such as few members of the regiment 
were familiar with. In spite of gnawing hunger and extreme 
weariness, it was impossible not to admire and enjoy it. 

A mile and a, half before reaching Grafton, the eastward- 
bound traveler over the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad passes 
through a dingy, scattering hill-side village on the banks of 
the beautiful little stream whose windings he has been follow- 



60 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

iug for many miles^ and which is here spanned by a substan- 
tial covered bridge. This is the Tygart's Valley River, and 
the village rising above it is Fetterman, Taylor County, West 
Virginia. Thus far in its journeyings toward the goal of 
every true soldier's aspiration, the front, the Sixth Ohio came, 
about one o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, July 2d. The trains 
halted and the regiment disembarked, to take up its quarters 
in the deserted houses that stood open and tenantless all 
around. Two-thirds of the men had gone without breakfiist, 
and many had tasted nothing since leaving Belmont. The 
quartermaster's car was at once besieged by company commis- 
saries, with their clamorous squads, come for their stores and 
cooking utensils, and by four o'clock the tardiest mess upon 
the ground was rejoicing over a hearty meal. Tattoo sounded 
early, and the weary troops gladly turned in for the night. 

The next day was one of drill and general activity, with no 
end of rumors. Details for picket duty and for guard over 
prisoners at Grafton were sent away soon after sunrise. Can- 
teens were distributed, and, for the first time, the companies 
practiced in actual firing. Letters were written home by the 
hundred, and at night, a day's rations were issued, preparatory 
to marching at daylight. Home, the Fourth, Philippi, and 
the promised fight on the morrow — such was the strange jum- 
ble of ideas with which the men lay down to rest, and which 
Fancy wove into dreams scarcely more novel and strange than 
their waking experiences. A heavy fog obscuring the morn- 
ing, as usual, the Fourth dawned gloomily, but when the sun 
climbed above the hills behind the village, the mists began to 
clear up, and it was a beautifully fresh summer morning when, at 
seven o'clock, the regiment embarked on a long train of freight 
cars, and started for Grafton. At the latter place the train made 
a short stop, and then, creaking cautiously over the splendid 



TO THE FEOXT. Gl 

iron bridge across the Tygart Valley River, moved out on the 
North-western Virginia Railroad, four miles upon \vhich 
brought it to Webster, where the regiment left the cars and 
swung out upon its first march. 

From what motives is hardly apparent, but it is certainly 
true that the situation at the front had been greatly misrep- 
resented ; so much so, indeed, that the wildest notions of the 
raw troops found some sort of corroboration in the rejiorts 
brought back from Philippi. The column, disposed as if an 
ambuscade were expected at every turn, pushed rapidly for- 
ward. The men were encumbered with heavy knapsacks, 
sufficiently betraying their inexperience in marching-; but al- 
though the day was excessively hot, and the road covered with 
dust, only three short halts were called throughout the march 
of fourteen miles. Just at twelve o'clock the roar of artillery 
broke out in the direction of Philippi, still four miles distant, 
and a cavalryman, who was met soon afterward, declared that 
fighting had begun, and reenforcements were urgently need- 
ed ; upon receiving which assurance, the troops were pushed 
forward at a merciless pace. In vain they emptied their 
knapsacks of every superfluous article, strewing the road- 
side with gray jackets, .extra clothing, etc. Overcome by 
heat and fatigue, hundreds fell out by the road-side, until at 
length the column was completely disorganized. Reaching the 
infantry outposts a mile from Philippi, Colonel Bosley learned 
that the firing was simply a national salute in honor of the 
day, there having been no unusual demonstrations at the front 
of any kind; notwithstanding which it was deemed best to 
push on to the end of the journey. AVelcome, indeed, were 
the first glimpses of the white tents composing the camp of 
the Indiana troops, past which what remained of the regiment 
was soon straggling, and, descending the hill just beyond, 



62 THE STORY OF A REGIMEXT. 

crossed the Tygart's Valley River by the covered bridge, and 
entered Philippi. As at Fetterman, there was no lack of 
abandoned dwellings, and of these the foot-sore trampers took 
possession without ceremony. The stragglers had all reported 
before retreat. 

Rations ran out at supper time, and as some of the com- 
pany wagons failed to come up that night, or even the next 
day, there was real destitution. Happily, among the regiments 
encamped at Philippi was the Sixth Indiana, the members of 
which had not forgotten their entertainu\ent by the Guthrie 
Greys at Camp Dennison, as their generosity in this hour of 
need abundantly proved ; besides which and the sutler's shop 
there was another and more mysterious source of supply. 
Plentiful in number were the guards and vigilant the patrols 
on Friday, the 5th; yet potatoes, corn-meal, and the like sub- 
stantial products of the land were not wanting at the dinner 
of many Guthrie messes. 

Resting in its comfortable though widely separated quar- 
ters, the Sixth Ohio lay two entire days at Philippi, which 
was now the front. The air was full of rumors ; scouts and 
spies were continually coming in, and after reporting at head- 
quarters were hardly alhnved time tq rest before being ordered 
away upon another expedition. A heavy picket was kept out 
in every direction, especially upon all the approaches from 
Laurel Hill, only fourteen miles away, where lay the main 
body of the enemy ; and on all sides appeared indications that 
lively work was close at hand. Movements were, indeed, on 
foot, which, within ten days, were to result in the utter rout 
of the rebel array, and, by that means effecting the deliverance 
of Western Virginia from the reign of terror threatened by 
both the Confederate and the old State Governments, were to 



TO THE FRONT. 63 

secure the permanent ascendancy of the Union cause through- 
out this mountain region. 

Soon after the passage of the State ordinance of secession, 
Governor Letcher appointed Robert E. Lee to the command 
of all the Virginia forces, with the rank of Major-General, in 
reward for the treason which had led that officer to resign a 
colonelcy in the United States cavalry service, a short time 
before; but the direction of military operations, in all that por- 
tion of the State lying east of the Alleghanies, being at once 
assumed by the Confederate Government, to General Lee was 
left but little more than the defense of the highland regions 
of Western Virginia. On the 3d of May, a date coincident 
with President Lincoln's first call for three-years' troops, Gov- 
ernor Letcher issued a proclamation calling out the militia in 
such numbers as " the commanding general of the military 
forces of the State" might deem the public exigencies, from 
time to time, to require; and, in pursuance of the policy thus 
foreshadowed, General Lee soon afterward sent Colonel Porter- 
field to Western Virginia, with written instructions to call for 
volunteers and receive them to the number of five thousand, 
with which force he was to hold the line of the Baltimore and 
Ohio Railroad, and to overawe the predominant Union senti- 
ment in that section of the State. Colonel Porterfield estab- 
lished himself at Grafton, and immediately began operations. 
But two-thirds of the militia remained true to the old flag, and 
he had succeeded in getting together less than a thousand men, 
all told, when, at the end of May, Colonel Kelley's advance 
from Wheeling compelled him to relinquish his hold upon the 
railroad and retire to Philippi; at which place, being sur- 
prised and completely routed on the morning of June 3d, he 



64 THE STOEY OF A KEGIMEXT. 

gathered up what he could of his scattered forces and retreated, 
first to Beverly and then to Huttonsvnlle. 

The ill-starred Porterfield was replaced by Brigadier-Gen- 
eral Robert S. Garnett, recently an officer of fine standing in 
the United States army, who brought with him the consider- 
able reeuforcement of six thousand men. The new commander 
at once chose a strong position at Laurel Hill, and vigorously 
began the work of fortifying it. In this task he was still en- 
gaged when the Sixth Ohio reached the front. 

IJiIeanwhile, the Union generals were not idle. McClellan 
took command, in person, on the 20th of June, and at the end 
of two weeks found himself at the head of nearly twenty- 
five thousand men, with several additional regiments within 
call, at the camps of rendezvous in Ohio and Indiana. The 
force available for offensive operations, however, very little, if 
at all, exceeded one-half that number ; for not only were large 
detachments required for the protection of long lines of com- 
munication, and for outlying posts, but the brigade which 
General Cox was moving up the Kanawha Valley was so re- 
motely cooperative that, for all practical purposes, it was to be 
regarded as an independent column. Corresponding, though 
less numerous, deductions reduced the rebel strength to cer- 
tainly less than ten thousand effectives;* but, as usual it was 
greatly magnified by reports current in the Union army ; and 
while conscription was daily swelling his ranks, Garnett had 
the signal advantages of choice of position and of maintaining 
a contest purely defensive. General McClellan could not fail 
to perceive the blunder that his antagonist had made in ad- 

* Pollard asserts that it was less than 5,000 infontry, with ten pieces 
of artillery and four companies of cavalry. McClellan, in his dispatch to 
Colonel Townsend, from Beverly, July 12th, says: "The provision returns 
here show Garnett's force to have been 10,000 men." 




Pi epared for 4 

] I lie \f(tn (ffo fietfunad 
\ B\ (id \ulwhmi U\ilknq 



TO THE FKOXT. 65 

vancing to Laurel Hill, which, although itself a strong posi- 
tion, easily admitted of being flanked, and shaped his plans 
accordingly. 

The Laurel Hill range, an offshoot of the Alleghanies, and 
one of the spurs which give to this part of West Virginia its 
extremely broken character, is crossed at some distance south- 
eastward from Philippi by the main turnpike leading from 
Wheeling to Staunton, a highway which was long the prin- 
cipal line of communication between the region east of the 
mountains and that whose water-shed is toward the Ohio 
River. It was for the purpose of barring this important ave- 
nue against any hostile body moving directly down it from 
the direction of Grafton, that Garnett had planted his army 
upon it at the base of the eastern slope of Laurel Hill, and he 
indulged in no extravagant confidence if, in this fastness, he 
felt perfectly secure against any assault directly upon his front. 
But elsewhere, upon his left flank, he had left a vulnerable 
point almost unguarded, as, indeed, it was not easy to avoid 
doing, without dangerously weakening his command by too 
great distribution. Several miles south of his position at that 
time, Itich INIountain, which is a continuation of the same 
general range as that upon which the main rebel army was 
posted, affords passage to the turnpike leading eastwardly from 
Weston and Buckhannon to Beverly. This last place is sit- 
uated at the junction of the two roads just named (the one 
from Rich Mountain, and the other from Laurel Hill), which 
here approach each other at a sharp angle, and by the winding 
turnpike is about five miles from the crest of Rich Mountain ; 
from the rebel camp at Laurel Hill it was about sixteen. 
Garnett's line both of communication and retreat thus lying 
directly through Beverly, toward Huttonsville and beyond, in 
the direction of Staunton, General McClellan resolved to seize 



6Q THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

upon it, after having blockaded the other known avenues of 
escape, with the expectation of connpelling him either to fight 
on more equal ground, in which alternative he must certainly 
be overpowered, or to surrender at discretion. 

Two cooperative columns were accordingly organized, the 
heavier one at Clarksburg, under the personal direction of the 
commander-in-chief, and the other under General Morris, at 
Philippi. With the former, in which were the Third, Ninth 
and Tenth Ohio — old friends of the Sixth— McClellan ad- 
vanced to Buckhannon on the 2d of July, and there remained 
until the 8th. The plan of campaign contemplated a suf- 
ficiently rapid movement of this force to tlie rear of Laurel 
Hill to cut off the enemy's retreat, durhig the time that the 
smaller column, by demonstrating heavily upon Garnett's im- 
mediate front, should have been misleading him into the be- 
lief that the main attack was to be expected from that quarter. 
The latter was the task assigned to the brigade at Philippi, 
consisting, on the 6tli of July, of the following troops, besides 
the Sixth Ohio : Sixth Indiana, Colonel Thomas T. Crittenden ; 
Seventh Indiana, Colonel Ebenezer Dumont ; Xinth Indiana, 
Colonel Robert H. Milroy ; Fourteenth Ohio, Colonel James 
B. Steedman ; detachments from Colonel Dickey's Fifteenth, 
and Colonel Irvine's Sixteenth Ohio, and also from the Second 
Virginia; and Colonel James Barnett's battery, nominally 
a regiment, from Cleveland, Ohio. The only three-years' 
organization in the entire body w^as the Sixth Ohio, which 
General McClellan had ordered to reenforce General Morris, 
upon that officer's request for more troops, with some reluc- 
tance, having originally designed it for operations elsewhere. 

Brigadier-General Thomas A. Morris was born in Nicholas 
County, Kentucky, December 26th, 1811, the third son in the 



TO THE FRONT. 67 

family of Morris and Rachel IMorris. In the fall of 1821, his 
father, unwilling to rear his family amid the baneful influ- 
ences of slavery, removed to Indianapolis, where, at the age of 
twelve years, young Morris was placed in the office of the 
Western Censor and EmigranVs Guide, the first newspaper 
established in that city, and the original of the present State 
Journal. After an apprenticeship of three years to "the art 
preservative," he returned to school, and in June, 1830, en- 
tered the military academy at West Point, graduating, four 
years later, fourth in his class ; soon after which he was as- 
signed to the First Artillery, with the customary brevet of 
second lieutenant, and, for a short time, was stationed at Fort- 
ress INIouroe. The winter of 1834—5 he spent with his com- 
pany, at Fort King, Florida ; in the spring succeeding which, 
he was detailed by the War Department on engineering duty, 
and ordered to the assistance of Captain Ogden, on the Cum- 
berland Road, in Indiana. After discharging this duty for 
some time, he left the army to accept the position of Resident 
Engineer in the service of his adopted State, and in this ca- 
pacity superintended the construction of the Central Canal 
and a portion of the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad. The 
whole distance upon the latter, from Vernon to Indianapolis, 
remaining unfinished when the State abandoned her plans for 
internal improvement, it was completed by a company which 
he was actively instrumental in forming, under his direction as 
chief engineer. He held the same responsible office in the lo- 
cation and construction of three other important roads in suc- 
cession, viz., the Terre Haute and Indianapolis, the Bellefon- 
taine, and the Indianapolis and Cincinnati Railroads, and, upon 
the opening of the latter, became its president and superintend- 
ent, the arduous duties of which positions he discharged with 
great acceptance for several years, or until compelled to resign 



68 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

by the requirements of private business. Being among the first 
to tender his services upon the President's call for troops, he 
received from Governor Morton the appointment of quarter- 
master-general of Indiana, and, as soon as the first five regi- 
ments had been mustered at Indianapolis, was intrusted with 
their command, with the rank of brigadier-general in the State 
service. A few days later his brigade was ordered to "Western 
Virginia, most of it reporting at Grafton, where his command 
was increased by the addition of the Fourteenth and Sixteenth 
Ohio. The columns which effected the surprise of Philippi on 
the morning of the 3d of June, were organized from his forces, 
all of whom were soon afterward moved forward to that place. 
But Philippi, in turn, was now to become a post in the rear. 



liAUEEL HILL. 69 



CHAPTER V. 

LAUREL HILL. 

(JULY 7-13, 1801.) 

"OETWEEN eleven and twelve o'clock on the night of 
-■^ July 6th, the Sixth Ohio was quietly roused, and ordered 
to hasten preparations for a forced march. It was a moonless 
night, and even the twinkling of the stars was hidden by the 
usual chilly fog. Most of the men were still sipping and cool- 
ing their cups of coiFee, when, amid the darkness, came the 
tramp of regiments from the main camp on the hill-side be- 
yond the river, wending their way through the streets of Phi- 
lippi. They swung out rapidly on the Beverly turnpike, toward 
Laurel Hill, moving in silence unbroken save by their own 
footfalls, and at intervals by the low tones of command. The 
Sixth Ohio fell in at once, and, after tedious waiting, finally 
started, at two o'clock of what was now Sunday morning. The 
Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth Indiana, the Fourteenth Ohio, and 
Barnett's battery were in advance, with three companies from 
the Fifteenth Ohio, three from the Sixteenth Ohio, and one 
company from the Second Virginia somewhere in the column, 
and a train of wagons following close in the rear. The expe- 
dition was under the personal command of General ]\Iorris, 
Captain Henry W. Benham (then serving upon his staff, 
although Chief Engineer of the department), directing the 



70 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

movements of tlie advance. McClellan was still at Buek- 
hannon. 

Day had broken over the distant mountain tops to the east- 
ward, when the regiment halted, after a steady tramp of six 
miles, not quite half-way to Laurel Hill. The remainder of the 
march was made more slowly, for the country abounded in the 
choicest sites for ambuscades, and, besides this, the artillery 
teams began to flag, proving too light for the hilly roads. At 
8 A. ]M., near the junction of the narrow road leading oif on 
the left toward Morgantown, and half a mile from the hamlet 
of Bealington, the skirmishers came upon the rebel outposts, 
and drove them in, which was quickly followed by the seizure 
of the commanding positions just beyond — within two miles 
of the enemy's main fortifications by the sinuosities of the 
turnpike, and in a direct line considerably uearef. The sum- 
mit of the AVheat Hill rising upon the left — so called because 
its slopes were green and waving with a growth of wheat — 
was quickly occupied by the Sixth Indiana, while the Seventh 
and Ninth Indiana took position somewhat lower, upon a 
plateau that commanded Bealington, supporting a section of 
Barnett's battery ; in front of which a redoubt was hastily 
thrown up, as a part of the dispositions made to hold the 
ground at all hazards. Facing this elevation, upon the right 
of the turnpike, and sloping down toward it, is another hill of 
semicircular outline, upon which the Fourteenth Ohio was 
posted. General Morris established his head-quarters at the 
house of Mr. Elliott, at the intersection of the Morgantown 
road, the approaches by Avhich were guarded by the Sixteenth 
Ohio detachment, vmder Lieutenant-Colonel Fulton, with one 
piece of artillery ; while immediately in the rear of head-quar- 
ters were the three companies of the Fifteenth Ohio, com- 
manded by Lieutenant-Colonel Dickey. The Sixth Ohio was 



LAUREL HILL. 71 

designated as the reserve, and about nine o'clock, filed off to 
the right, into a meadow lying between the turnpike and the 
Tygart's Valley River. Long-roll had been heard from the 
direction of the rebel camp, ensconced behind hills and thick 
woods, and, while the skirmish lines were keeping up a rattling 
fire, the regiment stacked arms, unslung knapsacks, and pre- 
pared for action ; but, after waiting an hour in the hot sun, 
during which time a score of exciting rumors ran the length 
of the lines, the men were dismissed to rest until evening, 
when a strong picket was thrown out, the Sixth Ohio fur- 
nishing the heavy detail of five companies. The night was 
cloudless and starlighted, with less fog than usual. Between 
nine and ten o'clock the sharp report of a rifle was heard from 
the outposts, followed by another and another, until, within a 
few moments, the signal had been carried along the whole 
northern and western picket line. Springing from their blan- 
kets, the men hurriedly began forming in line, but the pickets 
did not come in, and, all growing quiet again, they lay down 
to sleep behind their gun-stacks, and were only once more 
disturbed during the night. 

While for four days longer General Morris confronted the 
rebels, impatiently awaiting the result of McClellan's coopera- 
tive movement, he found it extremely difficult to control the 
untrained eagerness of his troo})s. During this period, which 
was one of constant activity and vigilance, the skirmishing at 
the front sometimes swelled almost to the proportions of a 
battle ; amid all which, however, the reserve was held in irk- 
some waiting. Monday morning brought a mail, the first 
welcome words from home that the Sixth Ohio had received 
since leaving Camp Dcnnison, and tents being distributed in 
the afternoon, they were pitched just before a heavy thunder- 
shower reached the camp. The rest of the baggage was not 



72 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMEXT. 

brought up until Thursday. Two or three false alarms oc- 
curred during the day, and about sundown a miniature battle 
Avas really fought, though hidden entirely from the sight of 
the expectant reserves, by the Wheat Hill. On Tuesday, the 
9th, a wet and disagreeable day, the rebels attempted an of- 
fensive demonstration, but with so little spirit that the Four- 
teenth Ohio and Ninth Indiana easily beat them off, and 
pursued them beyond their first line of rifle-pits, ^^ednesday 
was more quiet, the rebels permitting the Indiana skirmishers 
to hold undisputed possession of the woods in front of the 
Wheat Hill. During another rain-storm in the afternoon, 
Colonel Steedman succeeded in lodging his regiment upon a 
commanding hill considerably nearer the enemy, but, before 
night-fall, had such a fight to hold it that the entire brigade 
was put under arms for a short time. Thursday, the 11th, w^as 
a gloomy day throughout, with more rain. The rebels were 
strangely silent, for General Garnett knew what the Union 
commander could only surmise, namely, that the issue of the 
campaign was even then being decided at Rich Mountain. 

Unknown to General McClellan, a picked body of men from 
the Third Ohio, in Schleich's brigade, on the 5th of July, had 
been pushed forward from Buckhannon, on a reconnoissance, 
under the command of Captain O. A. Lawson. At Middle 
Fork Bridge, between Buckhannon and Rich Mountain, this 
party, on the next day, encountered the rebel pickets in strong 
force, and, after a sharp fight, were obliged to retire, leaving 
upon the field the dead body of Corporal Samuel W. Johns, a 
brave and most patriotic young man from Hamilton, Ohio. 
Fearing that this ill-advised expedition might have led the 
enemy to divine his purposes, McClellan broke camp on Mon- 
day, the 8th, and moved forward to Roaring Run, where, on 



LATTEEL HILL. 73 

the afternoon of the 9th, he drove the rebels into their in- 
trenchments at the foot of Rich Mountain, and went into 
bivouac for the night. The whole of Wednesday, the 10th, 
was spent in cautiously feeling the enemy in his front — in 
reality, a force of not exceeding two thousand men, under 
the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Pegram, of the Twentieth 
Virginia. At length a fortuitous circumstance disclosed to 
the alert Rosecrans the best method of attack, the plan being 
simply to pass around the enemy's left flank and strike him 
in the rear. Taking a pathless route through the woods, 
which were dripping with a cold rain, Rosecrans' brigade, at 
daylight on the 11th, filed off to the right, under the guid- 
ance of Mr. David L. Hart, a young loyalist, whose father's 
farm was situated upon the summit, within the rebel lines; 
and, although it failed of effecting a surprise, owing to the 
capture of an orderly whom McClellan had sent after Rose- 
crans with written instructions, the movement proved a com- 
plete success. The afternoon was rapidly waning, when, after 
a wet and exhausting march, the column approached the turn- 
pike, near the Hart homestead on the crest of Rich ISIountain, 
and found a detachment of the enemy there awaiting it. A 
short but spirited engagement ensued, resulting in the rout of 
the rebels and their retreat in confusion toward the main 
])ody, leaving Rosecrans in possession of the key-point of the 
entire position, with an unobstructed road to Beverly. The 
only course that now remained for Pegram was a speedy flight, 
which, however, was not an easy undertaking, since a whole 
brigade lay directly across his only line of retreat that was 
at all practicable for horses and artillery. Under cover of 
night, he abandoned his camp and equipage, and struck off 
across the mountains, with the intention of rejoining his com- 
mander-in-chief at Laurel Hill. But Garnett, apprised of the 



74 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

disaster wliich had befallen liis lieutenant, or perhaps antici- 
pating it, was already preparing to evacuate that position 
with the utmost haste, his purpose being to fall back rapidly 
upon Beverly, gather in his reserves which were there sta- 
tioned, and, uniting Avith Pegrara's forces from Rich INIount- 
ain, to retire through Huttonsville to the Cheat Mountain 
passes beyond, where he would again stand at bay, under cir- 
cumstances more favorable for defensive operations. In this 
jdan every thing depended upon such celerity of movement as 
would pass his forces through Beverly, sixteen miles distant, 
before it should be occupied^ by the Union troops, now almost 
in sight of it, upon Rich Mountain. 

Throughout that wet and dreary night, of almost Egyjitian 
darkness, the Indiana pickets in front of the Wheat Hill could 
distinctly hear the sound of trains in motion, the swearing of 
teamsters, and the shouts of excited voices, in the direction of 
the rebel camp, though no one knew whether it indicated re- 
enforcements and preparations for an attack, or a j)i'ecipitate 
evacuation. 

At daylight, when the night scouts hastened to report at 
head-quarters, as usual, their statements were found to be ut- 
terly contradictory, and many of the officers suspected a feint 
or ambuscade. Before the middle of the forenoon, however, 
all doubts were dispelled. Garnett was in full flight ; and soon 
after this discovery, a courier arrived from McClellan with the 
news of Rosecrans' success at Rich Mountain. The Ninth 
Indiana and other regiments being ordered forward to occupy 
the deserted intrenchments, by noon the rebel camp swarmed 
with curious soldiers, prying into every nook and corner, col- 
lecting relics, and confiscating to their own use all sorts of 
portable spoil. " It was a scene of indescribable confusion ; a 
miscellany of tents thrown down and torn in pieces ; tent poles, 



LAUREL HILL. 75 

some half burned ; camp-kettles, mess-pans, plates, spoons, 
knives and forks, and all the utensils common to camps ; camp- 
stools, cots, and blankets ; champagne baskets and bottles, 
flasks, decanters, flagons ; hospital stores, bandages, lint, litters, 
and stretchers; seedy boots and shoes, old clothes, stockings; 
and an endless litter of papers, letters, boxes, barrels, etc. 
Many valuable camp equipages had been tied up, but they 
could not load them, or else they had no time. Fifty barrels 
of flour, as many of hard bisouit, and a quantity of corn in the 
ear were found in one j)lace ; in another, whole bundles of 
stockings, pants, coats, and blankets, which they had not leisure 
to destroy; and in a pasture close by were seventy-five or a 
hundred sheep which they had impressed."* Sharing fully in 
the general elation, the Sixth Ohio lay restlessly awaiting or- 
ders ; at length, near the middle of the afternoon, the right 
wing was sent for, and somewhat later the left wing, Company 
K, however, remaining behind as camp guard. As it sank 
behind dark thunder clouds slowly rising in the west, the sun 
was hardly more than an hour high when the regiment re- 
formed within the rebel breastworks for a night march. Hap- 
pily Garnett had not been allowed so long a start as this, the 
Fourteenth Ohio, the Seventh and Ninth Indiana, and a sec- 
tion of Barnett's battery having gone forward several hours 
before, under command of Captain Bcnham. 

Leaving Lieutenant-Colonel Este, of the Fourteenth Ohio, 
with about seven hundred men, in charge of the various camps. 
General Morris followed with the rest of the brigade, consti- 
tuting the reserve, as it is designated in official reports, and 
comj-trising the Sixth Ohio, Sixth Indiana, the three companies 
of the Sixteenth Ohio, another section of artillery, and the 

* Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial signed " P." 



76 THE STOKY OF A EEGIMEXT. 

genenil's body-guard. As the night was fast closing around, 
and time was precious, this force moved rapidly, finding the 
road strewn for miles with playing cards, and articles of cloth- 
ing and equipage which the enemy had thrown aside in his 
hurried retreat. About dark the threatened rain began ; the 
men were soon wet through, and the road, which from the 
outset had been rough and broken, became ankle-deep in slip- 
per}'' mud. Couriers were met returning to Laurel Hill on 
various errands, all of them laden with the same animating 
tidings from the advance, to the effect that Benham had gained 
several hours upon the enemy, and McClellan had already been 
communicated with at Beverly. Garnett's plans, in truth, had 
totally miscarried. His reserve had fled toward Huttonsville 
without the show of effort to detain Rosecrans' victorious 
column descending from Rich ISIountaln. He had ordered 
trees felled across the road leading out in the latter direction, 
but instead of doing this, some inconceivably stupid subordi- 
nate had blockaded the turnpike between Beverly and Laurel 
Hill, and he had thus been forced, after pushing the head of 
his column to within three .miles of Beverly, to retrace his 
steps to Leedsville, * a hamlet about eight miles from Laurel 
Hill; near which place, taking the Leading Creek road, he 
had struck off north-eastward across the mountains, with the 
hope of escaping into Hardy County by a route leading through 
Saint George, a village magnified by map-makers as the seat of 
justice for Tucker County. Already exhausted by their night's 
work, and now just entering upon a long forced march over 
narrow and ill-kept mountain roads, the fugitives had a dreary 
prospect before them, and could they have seen the vigor of 
the pursuit, they would have realized still more keenly the 
perils of their situation. It was to little purpose that the 
rebels had labored hard in felling timber at various points 
* Leedsville is really about two miles south of the point indicated on map. 



LAUREL HILL. 77 

behind them, Bcnham's axemen quickly hewing a jiathway 
through every obstruction ; but the blockade at the entrance 
of the Leading Creek road threatened to occasion a serious 
delay until a guide was found who conducted the column 
around it, when the troops again pressed forward. Night fell 
prematurely for the work in hand, and they were compelled to 
halt; pickets were thrown out, and the main force lay down 
by the road-side, or crouched under the dripping laurel bushes 
to rest, but few of them to sleep. Hours later, the regiments 
in the rear came up, and were dismissed to the same comfort- 
less experience. 

It rained nearly all night, and at dawn, when the troops 
were roused again, a dense, chilly fog hung like a pall over the 
earth. By four o'clock the advance was in motion ; but what 
with the time lost in standing shivering in line, and in making 
a thrice-welcome cup of coiFee, it was near seven before the 
reserve fairly started. Within the first mile the mist changed 
to a cold, drizzling rain, before long increasing to a persistent, 
pouring mountain storm. The march of that eagerly pursuing 
column is memorable among the earlier exploits of the war. 
It was performed by green troops, inured to none of the hard- 
ships and fatigues of active campaigniiig, and as yet only learn- 
ing the soldierly lessons of patience and self-reliance by which 
alone they are made endurable. To the inclemency of the 
weather and the weariness consequent upon the rapid march 
of the previous day, and a night passed shelterless in the rain, 
were added the severities of hunger, many of the men having 
been permitted to start without their haversacks, and the 
whole provision train consisting of four light wagons. 

Following the roadway, whose bottom had become a soft, 
sticky paste, the troops twice forded Leading Creek, and at 
length struck a turnpike, as the natives denominate it, on 



78 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

which, for a few miles, they were enabled to make better 
progress. As they passed through the little village of New 
Interest, on the border of Randolph County, the rain de- 
scended in torrents; but without losing time in making their 
inquiries, they ascertained from the citizens, who stood gaping 
in their doorways, that Garnett's force was only three or four 
hours' march ahead, and this intelligence was more than con- 
firmed by the reports sent back by the advance. About the 
middle of the forenoon they reached a point wdiere the route 
of the fugitives deflected abruptly to the right, across the 
mountains, toward the Cheat River, which, in that part of its 
course, is known as Shafer's Fork. Debouching from the 
mountains into the Cheat bottoms, Garnett's forces would 
strike a better road, along which they could move more rap- 
idly down the river to Saint George; but their path over the 
mountains was a mere by-road, rough, narrow, and difiicult, 
and here the pursuit became an extraordinary test of the men's 
endurance. Indescribably bad already, the road grew worse 
and worse ; the storm continued, with no sign of slackening, 
which, however, was of less consequence, as all had been 
soaking wet for hours; rushing down the mountain sides the 
water poured into the roadway and converted it into a chan- 
nel down which crawled a current of liquid mud more than 
shoe-top deep; and, faint with hunger as they were, some of 
the weaker ones crept aside into the bushes, and lay down to 
rest. Still the column toiled onward. Benham had fairly 
closed in upon Garnett's rear-guard, and every mile showed 
increasing evidences of the disorganization which prevailed in 
the enemy's ranks. The advance had quickly cleared away the 
trees thrown across their path at various difficult passages, 
until coniing up with a body of pickets protecting the axemen, 
they had fired upon them and driven them rapidly. The 



LAUEEL HILL. 79 

rebel teamsters had thrown out hundreds of tents, tent poles, 
litters, camp-kettles, etc., to lighten their loads, and in two or 
three places heavy four-horse wagons had been upset and left 
hanging almost in mid-air above deep gorges, down which the 
trunks of trees and a dense underbrush alone prevented them 
from rolling. Some of the scared and sore-pressed fugitives 
had cast aside and trodden into the mire various articles of 
wearing apparel and even their accouterments. Fleet-footed 
as the flying Army of North-western Virginia was, the tread 
of disaster was keeping it constant company. 



80 THE STOKY OF A REGIMENT. 



CHAPTER VI. 

CARRICK'S FORD. 

(JULY 13-20, 1861.) 

T71 MERGING from the woods, the reserve at length de- 
•^-^ scended the mountain side into the fertile meadow 
lands bordering Cheat River^ where the remains of a camp 
were smoldering, at which a body of rebels had halted to cook 
the meal they so much needed, but which the advance had 
broken np in confusion. Just beyond this it forded the river 
at Kahler's — the current more than knee-deep, swift, and 
cold — and a short distance further on passed a second and 
much wider ford. Meanwhile tidings from the front were, 
growing more and more exciting. Several shots had been 
heard distinctly, and now firing broke out afresh, this time the 
roar of artillery less than two miles distant. The endurance 
of all had been terribly tried, until the men were falling out 
almost by squads ; but now — forward ! fast and faster forward ! 
It was, indeed, the sound of conflict, the action magnified by 
contemporaneous history as the battle of Carrick's Ford, 
which Captain Benham's official report to General Morris de- 
scribes as follows : 

"At the ford, near ' Kahler's,' and at about one-half the distance 
to another ford, which we met with about half a mile further on, 



carrick's ford. 81 

we saw the baggage train of the euemy, apparently at rest. This 
I proposed to attack as soon as strengthened by the arrival of 
Steedman's second battalion, with Dumont's regiment, when the 
thoughtless firing of a uuisket at our ford set the train rapidly in 
motion, and long lines of infantry were formed in order of battle 
to protect it. ' In a few minutes, however, the arrival of Barnett's 
artillery, with Dumont close upon it, enabled the command to push 
forward in its original order. But the train and its guard had re- 
tired, leaving only a few skirmishers to meet us at the second ford, 
where, however, quite a brisk firing was kept up by the advance 
regiments, and the artillery opened for some minutes, to clear the 
adjacent woods the more completely of the enemy. [Here six 
companies of Colonel Ramsey's Georgia regiment were cut off, but 
eventually succeeded in escaping through the woods.] We then 
continued our march rapidly to this (Carrick's) ford, and, as we 
approached it, we came upon their train, the last half of it just 
crossing the river. The enemy was found to have taken a strong 
position, with his forces upon a precipitous bank of some fifty to 
eighty feet in height, upon the opposite side of the stream, while our 
own troops were upon the low land, nearly level with the river. 
Steedman's regiment, in the advance, opened its fire most gallantly 
upon them, which was immediately returned by their strong force 
of infantry and their cannon ; upon which Barnett's artillery was 
ordered up, and opened upon them with excellent effect. As I 
soon perceived a position by which their left could be turned, six 
companies of Dumont's regiment were ordered to cross the river 
about three hundred yards above them, to pass up the hill 
obliquely from our right to their left, and take them in the rear. 
By some mistake (possibly in the transmission of the order) this 
command crossed at about double this distance, and turned at first 
to the right, which delayed the effect of the movement. After 
fifteen minutes, however, the error was rectified, and the hill being 
reported as impracticable, this command, now increased to the 
whole regiment, was ordered down to the ford under close cover 
6 



82 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMEXT. 

of tlie liill ou tlie side of tlie enemy, and then to take the latter 
directly in front and right at the road. The firing of Steedman's 
regiment and of Milroy's — now well up and in action — with re- 
peated and rapid discharges of the artillery during the movement, 
decided the action at once. As Dumont reached the road, having 
passed along and under their whole front, the firing ceased, and 
the enemy fled in great confusion. Dumout's regiment, pursuing 
them about one-half mile further, had a brisk skirmishing with 
their rear for the first half of that distance, during which General 
Garnett was killed. 

" The enemy would still have been followed up most closely, 
and probably to the capture of a large portion of their scattered 
army, but that this was absolutely impossible with our fatigued and 
exhausted troops, who had already marched some eighteen miles or 
more, in an almost incessant and violent rain, and the greater part 
of them without food since the evening, and a portion of them 
even from the noon of yesterday — so warm had been the pursuit of 
the enemy in their hasty retreat from Laurel Mountain, twenty- 
seven miles distant. The troops were, therefore, halted for food 
and rest, at about two o'clock P. M. 

" The result proves to be the capture of about forty loaded wag- 
ons and teams, being nearly all their baggage train, as we learn,' 
and including a large amount of new clothing, camp equipage, and 
other stores ; their Head-quarter papers and military chest ; also, 
two stands of colors ; also, a third flag, taken since, and one fine 
rifled piece of artillery ; while the commanding general, Robert S. 
Garnett, is killed — his body being now cared for by us — and fifteen 
or twenty more of the enemy are killed, and we have nearly fifty 
prisoners. Our own loss is two killed and six wounded, one dan- 
gerously. 

" In concluding this report, I feel it my duty to state that, just 
as the action was closing, the head regiment of the body of troops 
under yourself (though starting, as I learn, some three hours 
later), the Sixth Indiana, Colonel Crittenden, came up to the field 



caerick's foed. 83 

in excellent order, but, unfortunately, too late to aid us iu tlie 
battle." 

Provoking though it was to have been " too late/' the reserve 
was no less thankful than the advance to halt for the night, 
having marched not less than thirty miles since 5 P. JNI. of 
the previous day. The rain had now ceased ; it was nearly 
three o'clock. The beeves that were sacrificed to appease the 
god of hunger; the blazing fires that were made to steam oif th^ 
wet pack which the clothes of all had become under Nature's 
hydropathic bounty; the jokes that were circulated — the only 
dry things possible amid the prevailing humidity; the hearty 
exchange of congratulations, that were so much more plentiful 
than hard tack, in the mouths of all ; the musings upon the 
battle-field "where valor fought in other times;" the exulta- 
tions of victory, with the proud thought of what they would 
say at home ; the pity and the awe of gazing for the first time 
upon the faces of the dead slain in battle — these reminiscences, 
and more, are they not all laid up in the treasure-house of 
many a memory which, through long years to come, will de- 
light to wander back to that Saturday, July 13th, and its 
bivouac between the fog-' wreathed mountains on the banks of 
Cheat? 

Garnett, who was the first general officer killed during the 
war, fell bravely attempting to rally his men at the ford imme- 
diately below the house of Mr. James Carrick, or about one- 
fourth of a mile from that where the main fighting took place. 
" Not a Virginian stood by him when he fell," says an able 
letter-writer,* expressing the common sentiment of the vic- 
tors ; " the whole cowardly crew had fled, and, of all that army 
of four thousand, but one was with his general — a slight, boy- 

* " Agate," of the Cincinnati Gazette, Mr. John Whitelaw Reid. 



84 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

ish figure, with scarcely the down of approaching manhood 
on his face, and wearing the Georgia uniform and button. 
Bravely he had stood by his general to the last; and when 
Garnett fell, he fell too. There they lay, in that wild region 
on the banks of the Cheat, "with ' back to the field and face to 
the foe.' There, on that rugged bank, had come the solemn 
issue. They met it courageously, and fell as brave men fall." 
Though the criticism here implied is not wholly just, in view 
of the fiict that Colonel Taliaferro's Twenty-third Virginia 
constituted the rear-guard (which Garnett was in the act of 
rallying w^ien shot) it is unquestionably true that the rebels 
were so badly demoralized as to show no stomach for the fight. 
Even Pollard, prince of romancers (who has the effrontery to 
characterize the battle as a gallant little affair on the part of 
the rebels, and to call the retreat a success), is forced to a con- 
fession of some doubts whether the position at the ford might 
not have been longer maintained.* 

The troops slept late on Sunday morning, and, after breakfast, 
details were made to bury the dead, among whom were one or 

* The vigor of the pursuit greatly astonished the rebels, and converted 
their retreat into a genuine stampede. Says a Southern newspaper ac- 
count, vsT-itten, as the reader will perceive, under the misapprehension that 
McClellan personally directed the pui-suit: "Without allowing his tired 
soldiers a moment's respite. General George B. McClellan hotly pursued 
our army, and although continually checked and kept at bay, by our gal- 
lant reserve, still continued the attack with unabated energy. Without 
hesitation, he boldly gave battle at every point; and although the fighting 
can not be called more than skirmishing on a large scale, it, nevertheless, 
lasted throughout the day. In the evening the news came in that a com- 
pany of a Georgia regiment had been cut oflF by the enemy and made pris- 
oners. This little episode is known by the name of the battle of Carrick's 
Ford. General McClellan followed it up, and drove our troops from their 
covered position across the river, and captured the greater portion of our 



CAEEICK'S FORD. 8o 

two of the Union wounded, and two or three rebels, wlio had 
died during the night. The brave young Georgian was honored 
with a separate burial, in ]\Ir. Carrick's orchard, and a head- 
board, on which was penciled this inscription: "Name un- 
known. A brave fellow, who shared his general's fate, and 
fell fighting at his side, while his companions fled." A little 
before noon Major Gordon started for Rowlesburg, with Gen- 
eral Garnett's body, which, together with his sword and per- 
sonal effects, was afterward sent to Washington and thence 
through the lines to his mourning family at Richmond. An 
hour later, the brigade set out upon its return to Laurel Hill, 
Companies C and H, of the Sixth Ohio, remaining behind as 
part of a detachment in charge of the prisoners and captured 
trains. Notwithstanding that Cheat River was forded four 
times before sundown, the march was a pleasant one, the roads 
having wonderfully improved, and the sun shining brightly 
again. General Morris had been notified that Brigadier-Gen- 
eral Hill — a three-months' officer, holding his commission 
from the State of Ohio — was in rapid motion southward from 

baggage. The activity displayed by General McClellan on this occasion 
is deserving of high praise. Nothing seemed to stand in his way ; despite 
the heavy, intermittent rain, and the execrable roads, his troops displayed 
a fortitude and energy that commands admiration. For tvpo days, with 
indefatigable determination, he followed close upon our heels. Whenever 
we sought a few moments' rest, we were aroused by the fire of his 
riflemen at our outposts, and the bullets, which were flying about in all 
directions, made our position any thing but comfortable. Genera] 
McClellan, who might feel well satisfied with the result of the day, here 
gave up the pursuit. Having defeated and demoralized our army, he re- 
mained master of a large number of prisoners, with the greater portion 
of our guns and baggage as booty. Verily could he report to Washing- 
ton : ' Our success is complete ; secession in this part of the country is 
stopped.' " 



86 THE STORY OF A EEGIMEXT. 

Rowlesburg to intercept the flying enemy; but at Saint 
George, where the troops encamped for the night, ten miles 
from Carrick's Ford, he was met by the intelligence that Gar- 
uett's forces had succeeded in making their escape. At half 
past four o'clock on Monday morning, the march was resumed, 
and once more fording Cheat River, at this point unusually 
wide, the brigade began that exhausting march of thirty odd 
miles, which every surviving participant so well remembers as 
"the return from Carrick's Ford."- At nightfall, when the 
men, faint with hunger, began straggling into camp, they 
scarcely retained the semblance of organization, and some did 
not come in before midnight. 

General McfJlellan's immediate command, meanwhile, had 
not been idle. Beverly was occupied on the morning of July 
12th, the day after the battle of Eich Mountain, and in the 
afternoon Lieutenant-Colonel Pegram and six hundred of 
his men surrendered as prisoners of war, worn out with 
their fruitless night march to Laurel Hill, and their aimless 
wanderings among the mountains, which were now within 
the Union lines. Next day INIcClellan moved on to Hut- 
to nsville, where the retreating rebels had burnt the bridge 
over the Tygart's Valley River, and frdm thence, on Sunday, 
telegraphed to Washington the crowning victory of Carrick's 
Ford. On Monday he advanced the Third and Ninth Ohio, 
Loomis' battery, and other troops several miles further, or 
nearly to the summit of Cheat Mountain, which he then began 
fortifying. As for the fugitive remnant of the Army of North- 
western Virginia, after abandoning their remaining artillery 
and baggage, the rebels had turned sharply off at Horseshoe 
Run, not quite half way to Saint George, climbed several suc- 
cessive mountain ranges, and passed through the corner of 



careick's ford. 87 

Maryland into Hardy County, witli the intention of seeking 
refuge with General Joseph E. Johnston, then occupying the 
Shenandoah Valley. Finding that the pursuit had been given 
up, however, they rested a short time in the vicinity of Peters- 
burg, and then marched southward, under Colonel Ramsey, 
to unite with General H. R. Jackson's force at Monterey, in 
Highland County, the quarter toward which Garnett's reserves 
had originally retreated from Beverly. 

It is foreign to the scope and purpose of this 'volume to 
attempt any review of McClellan's campaign in "Western Vir- 
ginia, which was thus terminated. He was the commander- 
in-chief under whom the " Army of Occupation " marched to 
victories, which were not trifling as regards their moral effect 
at least, much as they may be dwarfed by comparison with 
the many stupendous achievements of later date ; and upon this 
limited field he showed more vigor and decision than at any 
other period in his whole career. Yet no unbiased student 
can fail to mark in how singularly great degree the results of 
even this campaign were due to purely fortuitous circum- 
stances: to the mistakes of his opponent, conspicuously in 
taking position so far beyond Beverly, in the rear of which 
place such a flanking movement as was the advance from 
Buckhannon must have proved extremely difficult, if not im- 
possible ; to the enterprise and emulative daring of subordi- 
nates; and to his great preponderance in that most important 
particular, " the heavy battalions." Two years later there was 
scarcely a six-months' colonel in either of the contending 
armies, who might not propei'ly have deemed himself insulted 
had he been judged incapable of planning a campaign, and 
prosecuting it successfully, under conditions equally favorable. 

About ten days after the action of Carrick's Ford, the three- 
months' volunteers, hajipy and sunburnt, marched to the rear, 



88 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

and took cars for home. The Infantry regiments all reorgan- 
ized, and were in the field again weeks before the next winter's 
snow fell. The Fourteenth Ohio, rendezvousing at Toledo, 
and retaining its old commander, was sent into Kentucky, 
while the officers and men of Barnett's battery "gave to the 
country the benefits of their excellent drill, acquired during 
their many years' practice, as well as their experience in the 
field during their short but active campaign in Virginia, by 
becoming officers " in several of the batteries which afterward 
composed the First Regiment Ohio Volunteer Artillery,* with 
Colonel Barnett at the head of its roster. The Seventh and 
Xinth Indiana rejoined the Sixth Ohio at Elkwater, under 
circumstances which form a j^art of our narrative in a soon 
succeeding chapter, nearly simultaneously with which the Sixth 
Indiana completed its reorganization, and was hurried across the 
Ohio to reenforce " crazy Sherman," where he lay at Elizabeth- 
town, Kentucky, a grim barrier across Buckner's approach to 
Louisville. We shall find it again marching and fighting in 
close companionship with the Sixth Ohio, a little more than 
two years later. 

Holding a three-months' commission merely, General Mor- 
ris, after conducting the three-months' Indiana regiments to 
Indianapolis, was honorably discharged, on the 27th of July. 
A few weeks later, President Lincoln, through a mutual 
friend, tendered him a major-generalship, which he accepted, 
but from some cause (supposed to be the disfavor of General 
McClellan, who had meantime become the chief repository of 
military power at Washington) the commission was withheld; 
and when, in the fall of 1862, he was again offered an ap- 

* Adjutant-General Buckingham's Report for 1801. 



careick's ford. 89 

pointraent — first as brigadier-general, and afterward as major- 
general — he declined it on the ground that self-respect forbade 
the acceptance of any other commission than that originally 
tendered and then withheld without any assigned cause, espe- 
cially as a large number of junior officers had been given 
ranking positions in the interim. Resuming the duties of 
Chief Engineer on the Indianapolis and Cincinnati Railroad, 
he supervised the construction of the Ohio portion from Law- 
rejiccburg to Cincinnati, and has since been chosen one of the 
board of directors of that road, in addition to his services in 
the former connection. 



90 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMEXT. 



CHAPTER yil. 
BEVERLY. 

(JULY 21-AUGUST 29, 1861.) 

AT 8 A. M., on Sunday, July 21st, the Sixth Ohio again 
moved forward, crossing the Laurel Hill range by the 
same zig-zag road through a wide expanse of forest solitudes, 
by which it made its night march in pursuit of Garnett, and, 
as it descended the slope of the mountain, met the Eighth 
and Tenth Indiana — three-months' men — homeward bound 
and happy. The noonday halt was a long one, so that the 
sun was setting just as the regiment came in sight of Beverly, 
lying directly below it, in a fertile vale that stretched away 
in quiet beauty toward Cheat INIountain, several miles beyond. 
The troops were covered with dust, weary and foot-sore, from 
their march of twenty miles, but when the field music began 
playing, the ranks closed up at once, and marched through the 
town in handsome style, past General McCIellan, who stood in 
front of head-quarters at the Valley House, watching the regi- 
ment file by. It was dark before the tents were pitched, in 
a meadow half a mile beyond Beverly, near the camp of the 
Fourth Ohio and McClellan's body-guard. Somewhat after 
midnight rain began falling. Were the very heavens in j^ity, 
weeping over the nation's calamity ? — for at that very hour of 
this sultry Sabbath night the rain-drops were plashing on the 



BEVEELY. 91 

Tipturnecl faces of the dead at Bull Run. On Tuesday morn- 
ing, General McClellan left for AVashington, to ^vliicli point 
he had been summoned in haste, for reasons which became 
only too evident when rumors shaped themselves, as they soon 
did, into the sure and heavy tidings of disaster. A few hours 
afterward the Sixth Ohio moved back to the northern out- 
skirts of Beverly, where, in a jilcasant, though somewhat 
restricted camping ground, it remained until advanced to Elk- 
water, five and a half weeks later. Company A fronted upon 
the turnpike, while, a few rods in rear of the encampment, 
llowed that fa^jt friend of the Sixth Ohio, the Tygart's Valley 
River, here a slender stream compared with its volume at 
Fetterman, sixty-two miles below. The right of Companies 
B and G rested on the village grave-yard, and on the left the 
regimental lines included a two-story brick school-house, for a 
short time used as a place of confinement for rebel prisoners, 
and afterward as guard quarters. Westward, across the river, 
Avith a stretch of fertile bottom-land between, rose the dark 
green heights of Rich Mountain; seven miles away, to the 
south-eastward, appeared the dimmer outlines of the Cheat 
Mountain range. 

General Rosecrans, upon whom the command of the depart- 
ment now devolved, immediately transferred head-quarters to 
Grafton, whence, on the 25th of July, he issued an order divid- 
ing the little "Army of Occupation" into four brigades, of 
which the First comprised the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and 
Fifteenth Indiana, the Third Ohio, Burdsal's cavalry, and 
Loomis' battery, together with " the depot of Beverly, con- 
sisting of the Sixth Ohio, detachments of the First and Second 
Virginia Regiments, and Bracken's cavalry;" the Tenth Ohio 
was assigned to the Second Brigade, and the Ninth Ohio to 
the Third, while the First and Second Kentucky were placed 



92 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

^iii tlic Fourth, General Cox's "Brigade of the Kanawha." 
The withdrawal of the three-months' regiments materially- 
weakened the army in Western Virginia, now composed of 
Ohio troops mainly;* and the disastrous issue of the Bull 
Run campaign having concentrated the nation's attention 
upon the imperiled capital, for some weeks the region of 
the Potomac continued to absorb nearly all the reenforce- 
ments which the North was enabled to hurry to the field. 
Elated by their triumph at Manassas, the rebel authorities 
were swift to seize this fancied oj)portunity for reconquer- 
ing Western Virginia, and driving the Union forces beyond 
the Ohio. General Floyd's brigade, which had originally 
been ordered to Jackson River, in Highland County, for the 
relief of Garnett's retreating army, was diverted to the Kana- 
wha Valley, there beginning aggressive movements imme- 
diately, but was more than replaced upon the former line of 
operations by heavy reenforcements, under the personal com- 
mand of General Robert E. Lee, which were pushed forward, 
with very little delay, to within a day's march of the Union 
positions at the Cheat Mountain Gaps. It may be easily un- 
derstood that, so far from being the routine of camp and gar- 
rison life merely, the duty devolving upon Rosecrans' army 
was arduous and exacting, as the Union forces were widely 
scattered, and many parts of the country infested with rebel 
guerrillas, both of which circumstances made heavy details 
necessary to guard communications; at the same time, it was 
essential that a bold front should be maintained at every ex- 
posed point, and the enemy's superiority in numbers neutralized 

*Adiutant-Genei'al Buckingham's Report says that on the 1st of August, 
the entire force of three-years' troops which Ohio had sent into the field, 
was serving in Western Virtrinia. 



BEVERLY. 93 

by unceasing vigilance, and wisely improving every advantage 
afforded by a choice of positions. To the First Brigade was 
assigned the important service of holding the Cheat Mountain 
Gaps, barring the enemy's only practicable approaches to the 
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad down the Tygart's Valley, and 
of protecting the line back to Grafton from any incursions 
from beyond the Alleghanies. The command of this brigade 
was given to General Reynolds, an officer every way worthy 
of the high confidence reposed in him by the department com- 
mander. 

General Joseph Jones Reynolds, though born in Kentucky, 
became an adopted son of Indiana many years before the out- 
break of the rebellion, and graduated at West Point Military 
Academy, in 1843, in the same class with General Grant, but 
leaving the army after a comparatively short service, settled in 
Lafayette, Indiana. Beginning the labor of raising troops 
immediately upon the President's first call, he was commis- 
sioned Colonel of the Tenth Indiana, and placed in command 
of Camp Morton, where the organization of the three-months' 
regiments was perfected, and they were then turned over, as we 
have seen, to the command of General Morris. On the 17th of 
May he was appointed Brigadier-General of Volunteers, at 
that date having held a similar rank in the State service for 
just one week ; and about the same time the surplus men who 
had been recruited under the three-months' call were organ- 
ized into another brigade, consisting of the Thirteenth, Four- 
teenth, Fifteenth, and Seventeenth Indiana. With this com- 
mand (which is believed to have been the first organized 
three-years' brigade in the field). General Reynolds, in July, 
repaired to Western Virginia — the Thirteenth Indiana reaching 
there in time to take part in the battle of Rich Mountain, 



94 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

M-liere It \yas the only tliree-years' organization actually en- 
gaged. 

Beverly, where the Sixth Ohio remained until the end of 
August, was a post of considerable importance, not only as 
being a depot of supplies, but also because numerous paths, 
practicable for both cavalry and infantry, centered there from 
beyond the mountains, and thus rendered it a somewhat vulner- 
able point upon Reynolds' line of communications. Colonel Bos- 
ley was appointed to the command of the post, that of the regi- 
ment thereupon devolving npon Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson. 
Among; other duties intrusted to the Sixth Ohio was that of 
scouting the neighboring mountains, around to the front of 
Cheat Mountain Summit, which, although attended with some 
danger, and an amount of fatigue and exposure almost inde- 
scribable, was exceedingly popular with the men, for whom it 
possessed all the charms of novelty and excitement, combined 
with fine ojiportunities for winning distinction. No one 
thought of regular details when a scouting party was organ- 
ized ; volunteers crowded about head-quarters in such numbers 
that to be one of those selected was deemed quite a mark of 
favor. At first, the scouts undertaken were in small parties, 
under the guidance of men possessing experience in this branch 
of service, the most noted of whom was John L. Thomas, a 
member of the Tenth Indiana, who had voluntarily remained 
behind when his regiment returned home, and taken up his 
quarters with Company G, of the Sixth Ohio. In a short 
time, however, the regiment could point to a band of scouts, 
in its own ranks, as daring and efficient as any in the de- 
partment — Choate and INIartin, both of Company I, and others. 
On the 5th of August, a few picked men from Company E 
started upon a scout, under Sergeant Leonard E. Boice, and 
succeeded in capturing six prisoners ; among the rest, a colonel 



BEVERLY. 95 

of Virginia militia, just returned from Richmond, and an old 
bald-headed citizen, who had important letters upon his per- 
son, and sketches of the Union camps concealed in the soles 
of his shoes. 

The date last given marks one of the most eventful days of 
this period. In the morning, Company D struck tents and 
moved back toward Leedsville, to protect the Unionists of that 
vicinity, and guard what was considered a somewhat exposed 
point on the line of communications, while the day was brought 
to a close by a terrible accident. The scout Thomas, standing 
in one of the tents of Company G, was loading his piece, 
preparatory to a night tour beyond the pickets, when, by some 
means, it exploded, and the charge taking eifect among a group 
in Company K, which was just forming for dress parade, pri- 
vate George Yeager received a severe flesh wound, and Cor- 
poral Harvey S. Ford was shot through both legs and fearfully 
mangled. The latter underwent amputation next morning, at 
the skillful hands of Surgeon Loving, and received every pos- 
sible attention, in spite of which he died, from the effects of 
gangrene and exhaustion, on the morning of the 9th, and was 
buried in the afternoon. This was the first death in the three- 
years' regiment. Though immediately arrested, to answer for 
his alleged carelessness, Thomas was released before the next 
morning, and came and went, as usual, for two weeks longer, 
wlien he was released from further service by an affair of still 
more tragic character. 

Late in the afternoon of Saturday, August 17th, intelligence 
reached Beverly that a small body of rebel cavalry had crossed 
the eastern one of the Alleghanian ranges, from Pendleton 
County, and, having collected a drove of beeves from the farms 
of resident Unionists, were then in bivouac in Dry Fork Val- 
ley, distant between thirty and forty miles ; upon which an 



96 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

expedition was set on foot, for the capture of this force and 
their stolen beeves, consisting of one hundred men from the 
Sixth Ohio and Second Virginia, under command of Captain 
Clarke, of the former. Starting at nine o'clock the same 
night, the detachment, on Sunday morning, fell in with a party 
of Sixth Ohio scouts, sent out two days before, who joined 
company and went back with it. Under a hard rain, the men 
toiled on all day over the mountains, following narrow ravines 
knee-deep in water ; creeping, with painful care, along bridle- 
paths, in single file ; surrounded by trackless forests of pine 
and hemlock ; and almost constantly shut in by a dense, im- 
penetrable growth of laurel bushes. Several tributaries of 
Cheat River, though foaming now and furious from the rain, 
were safely crossed by various expedients, until, late in the 
afternoon, they came to Laurel Fork, without having discov- 
ered any signs of an enemy. The foremost of the party 
had nearly gained the further bank, when a sharp and sud- 
den volley of musketry was poured into them from the thick- 
ets beyond, instantly killing Corporal Michael Lee, of the 
Second Virginia, and mortally wounding a private belonging 
to the same regiment ; at the same time, T. C. Tryon, a mem- 
ber of Company K, of the Sixth Ohio, had two fingers of the 
left hand shot ofP, and Thomas was shot through the body 
above the hips, notwithstanding which he ran across the river 
toward the enemy, and raised his gun to fire ; but the cap 
snapped, and he fell to the earth. The troops quickly re- 
turned the volley from the middle of the stream (probably 
without effect), and continued searching for the guerrillas un- 
til dark, but there was neither sight nor further sound of 
any other human beings near. Abruptly terminated by this 
disaster, the expedition next day returned to Beverly, after 
hastily burying Thomas, who died during the night, in the 



BEVERLY. 97 

same grave with Corporal Lee, aud leaving Tryon and the 
wounded Virginian at a solitary log cabin among the mount- 
ains.* 

On the 22d (the Sixth "Ohio having, meantime, made a march 
to Huttonsville), Hospital Steward West, with an ambulance 
and strong escort, was dispatched to bring back the Avounded 
men; he found the Virginian already dead and buried, but 
Tryon was doing well, and seemed overjoyed at the sight of 
friends. In order to save a tedious detour at one point on the 
homeward march, the guards were induced to leave the road 
for a short distance, having met no signs of bushwhackers 
all day, but scarcely were they out of sight when the ambu- 
lance was fired into; one of the horses fell dead, the driver 
was shot through the arm, and Tryon sprang out and scram- 
bled into the laurel bushes, swam Cheat River twice, and 
found his way back to camp on foot. Alarmed by the firing, 
the guards hastened to the spot, but could not find any enemy. 
That night a force of two hundred and fifty men went out, 
under command of the major of the Second Virginia, to beat 
up these outlaws in their own lair, and punish them as 
they deserved. It penetrated eight miles further east than 
any previous expedition had done, burnt down the houses of 
two or three notorious rebels, and was fired into, on its re- 
turn, though without receiving any damage. The fourteen 
crack shots who were left behind, in ambush, to retaliate, re- 
turned to camp two days later, with the report that not a liv- 
ino; soul had come in sight in all that time. 

During its sojourn at Beverly, the Sixth Ohio made good 
progress in drill and discipline, under the judicious manage- 

*A graphic letter describing this expedition, by "William Reed Bartlett, 
of Company B, Sixth Ohio, was published in the Cincinnati Times. 

7 



98 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMEXT. 

ment of Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson, and was kept well 
provided for in the way of supplies. For a short time after 
the Carrick's Ford expedition, many of the men suffered con- 
siderably from bowel disorders, but Surgeon Loving was as- 
siduous in his labors to improve the sanitary condition of the 
regiment, and soon had the satisfaction of finding the sick rate 
greatly reduced ; so that, before its removal to Elkwater, the 
Sixth Ohio had become what it remained to the last day of 
its service, namely, one of the most healthy commands, if not 
the very healthiest, in the Union army. Changes began early 
among the commissioned officers. On the 3d of August, Sec- 
ond Lieutenant Donovan, of Company A, was promoted to First 
Lieutenant, and transferred to Company E, vice Lieutenant Hoy, 
previously discharged for physical disability. Sergeant-Major 
William P. Anderson was subsequently promoted to the Sec- 
ond Lieutenancy thus vacated, and detailed for duty on Gen- 
eral Reynolds' staif, being replaced in the former position by 
the genial and universally popular "Sherry" — Orderly-Ser- 
geant William E. Sheridan, of Company F. 

Meanwhile, the enemy's attitude was becoming more and 
more threatening in front of the Cheat Mountain Gaps; and, 
although such a strengthening of those positions as the aspect 
of affairs demanded was not possible, Avith the comparatively 
small force at his diposal. General Rosecrans managed to re- 
enforce Reynolds' brigade, about the middle of August, with 
the Seventeenth Indiana, the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth 
Ohio Regiments, and one or two batteries of artillery, all of 
which were promptly moved to the front. An attack upon his 
pickets, on the night of August 19th, led General Reynolds to 
believe that Lee's entire army was on foot, and orders were 
immediately telegraphed Colonel Bosley to hasten forward the 



BEVERLY. 99 

Sixth Ohio. Taps had beaten, and the regiment was settling 
down into the quiet of slumber, when it was roused by the 
hurried command to fall in for a march to the front. It was 
a dark night, and the road, although a passably good Virginia 
turnpike, was very heavy, from the effects of late rains, not to 
mention the ponds of water which the troops encountered almost 
every mile, some of them more than knee-deep. Between two 
and three o'clock, after marching for two hours in the midst of a 
tremendous thunder-storm, the regiment reached Mill Creek, 
a swift little stream about two miles from Huttonsville, and 
there rested till morning, word having come that the flood had 
swept away the new bridge over the Tygart's Valley River, 
without which, crossing was simply impossible. In their Wet 
and bedrabbled condition, the men were soon chilled through ; 
fires were, nevertheless, forbidden, as being unsafe, so long as 
the enemy's movements remained undeveloped. As soon as 
day dawned, however, groups of numb and shivering wretches 
began drying themselves before glorious bonfires, and, after a 
good breakfast, all were ready to resume the march on what 
was now a beautifully bright morning. Passing through the 
straggling little hamlet of Huttonsville, the regiment halted 
on the banks of the Tygart's Valley River, where it lay all 
that day and night, awaiting orders and looking eagerly toward 
the head-quarters flag, floating from a tree-top over the camp 
at "the Pass," somewhat less than half-way to the Summit; 
but as the supposed emergency which summoned it from Beverly 
had passed away, on the next day it returned to its old quarters. 
On the 24th of August, detachments of the Ninth and 
Twenty-third Ohio passed through Beverly, and there were 
many pleasant reunions between members of the Sixth and old 
friends in those commands. New friends, but fast ones, were 
soon to be found among comrades at Elkwater. 



100 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

TO ELKWATER. 

(AUGUST 29-SEPTEMBER 9, 1861.) 

ON the afternoon of Thursday, August 29th, the Sixth 
Ohio received orders to break camp, and move to the 
front, at Elkvvater, where another alarm had occurred; upon 
which the pickets and other outlying guards were immediately 
relieved by details from the Second Virginia, two days' rations 
were distributed, and about half past four o'clock the regiment 
started, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson, 
Colonel Bosley remaining at Beverly as commandant of the 
post, with Lieutenant Henry McAlpin, of Company A, as 
Post Adjutant. Company D was still at Leedsville; Captain 
Tatem was no longer with it, however, but lay the victim of 
a raging fever at the house of ]Mrs. Arnold,* in Beverly, occu- 
pying the same apartment with Adjutant Heron, who had 
also been stricken down by the same disease. It was eighteen 

* This ladj, although a sister of Stonewall Jackson, merits an honor- 
able place among the noble characters whose loyalty and self-sacrifice 
almost redeems the local history of many a doubtful border district during 
the rebellion. After the withdrawal of the troops from the Cheat Mount- 
ain region, Mr. and Mrs. Arnold were more than once made to feel the 
weight of rebel vengeance, in the devastation of their property about 
Beverly, and other outrages, which finally obliged them to remove within 



TO ELKWATEE. 101 

miles to Elkwater, over a road in no better condition than 
when the regiment marched to Hnttonsville, ten days before ; 
and that night there was no moon till late, the sky meanwhile 
remaining overcast and threatening. On reaching Mill Creek, 
between nine and ten o'clock, a halt was called to allow the 
men to get supper. Gladly would they have bivouacked there, 
but, for the sake of the comrades who might be in peril, the 
column again pushed forward — slipping, stumbling, groping 
in the darkness, yet in good heart and well closed up. At 
length the moon rose over Cheat Mountain, the clouds rolled 
away, and the last three miles of the march were made more 
comfortably, the regiment reaching Elkwater about 2 A. M. 
Not a single tent had been brought along from Beverly, but, 
fortunately, the left wing of the Ninth Ohio (under marching 
orders to rejoin the right wing elsewhere), when it departed 
on the previous morning, had allowed its tents to remain 
standing, and, taking possession of these, the men slept soundly 
until awakened by the next day's sunrise. 

During the forenoon the tents of the friendly Ninth were 
packed up and sent after their owners, and as those of the 
Sixth did not arrive, the men were driven to such makeshifts 
as their ingenuity could devise for shelter, first from the 
scorching sun, and then from the cold, drizzling rain with 
which the day closed. A dreary night followed, officers shar- 
ing equally with the men in all its discomforts. On Saturday 
morning a detail of one hundred men, with a suitable comple- 

the lines of permanent Union occupation. Mrs. Arnold's ministrations 
among the sick and wounded at Beverly were such as only a true- 
hearted woman knows how to offer — such as they who receive them can 
never forget. Captain Tatem, in a letter to the Cincinnati Enquirer^ 
dated September 15th, did honor to himself by referring to them as they 
deserved. 



102 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

ment of officers, was made from Companies B and K to work 
upon the fortifications. It returned in the evening to find the 
regimental equipage all come up, and camp pitched in a beau- 
tiful maple grove close upon the banks of Elkwater; but the 
other companies were not there, having been sent out imme- 
diately after dinner to relieve an Indiana regiment on picket 
duty at Brady's Gate, ten miles toward the enemy, Lieutenant- 
Colonel Anderson leading the way on foot. 

In order to clearly understand the eventful campaign upon 
which the Sixth Ohio had now fairly entered, it will be neces- 
sary to take a somewhat careful survey of its surroundings. 

Nature has relieved the wild and rugged aspect of the Cheat 
Mountain region — a veritable terra incognita to the Union 
forces which first occupied it — by two or three beautiful little 
valleys ; and to these the efforts of man have added some traces 
of civilization along the two highways into which the turnpike 
from Grafton subdivides at Huttonsville. One of these high- 
ways, climbing the Cheat Mountain range, deflects south-east- 
wardly toward Staunton ; the other continues in a general 
direction nearly due south to Huntersville, the seat of justice 
for Pocahontas County, and at the period under consideration 
the chief depot of supplies for Lee's army. 

After as thorough an examination of the country as was 
then possible, General Reynolds became satisfied that Hut- 
tonsville, or its immediate vicinity (at the junction of the two 
roads above mentioned), was the proper station for any force 
that purposed defending the territory wrested from the rebels 
in the Rich Mountain campaign, and preventing the enemy's 
march down the valley toward the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- 
road. But General McClellan had already posted the Four- 
teenth Indiana and a few cavalrymen upon the summit of 



TO ELK WATER. 103 

Cheat Mountain, a day's march beyond, on the Staunton 
turnpike, and had caused extensive fortifications there to be 
commenced. To abandon this position would have had the 
appearance of a retrograde movement, discouraging to the 
Union sentiment of Western Virginia, if not to the entire 
North, and must have proved not a little distasteful to the 
victors of Rich Mountain and Laurel Hill. For these reasons* 
General Reynolds decided to retain the advanced post at the 
Summit, and at the same time to establish another camp ou 
the Huntersville turnpike, at Stalnaker's, a short distance above 
the place where the Tygart's Valley River receives its tribu- 
tary, Elkwater Fork — Colonel Nathan Kimball, of the Four- 
teenth Indiana, commanding at the former, and Colonel George 
D. Wagner, of the Fifteenth Indiana, at Elkwater. Brigade 
head-quarters were situated at the Pass, so-called, at the base 
of Cheat Mountain, not quite one-third of the distance from 
Huttonsville to the Summit, which, in all, is about thirteen 
miles. 

Between Elkwater and the Summit there was at first no 
other means of passage than the route along the turnpikes, by 
way of Huttonsville and the Pass. The two roads, in fact, 
form the sides of a triangle, of which the points were Huttons- 
ville and the two camps — Elkwater, however, being not more 
than half as far from Huttonsville as Cheat Mountain Summit 
is. Greater facility of communication was soon obtained by 
cutting a path through the woods, which intersected both 
turnpikes at no great distance in the rear of the camps, and 
which, although impassable for wagons or artillery, proved a 
great convenience to the infantry, and was especially valuable 
as affording a means of promptly reenforcing one camp from 

* The writer's authority for this statement is General Reynolds himself. 



104 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

the other in case of a sudden attack. The front between Elk- 
water and the Summit was, perhaps, eight miles, as a bird 
would fly; but such is the broken nature of the country that 
it was barely practicable to connect the two camps by so much 
as a chain of outposts. Every exertion was used to fortify the 
advanced positions as rapidly as possible, and in directing this 
labor very valuable service was rendered by Lieutenants Mer- 
rill and Bowen, young officers of the Topographical Engineers, 
then serving on General Reynolds' staff. 

The Elkwater defenses were planned with great care. It 
was an admirably chosen position. Bold spurs of Cheat 
Mountain (of which that known to the troops as Elkwater 
Peak is the highest) here jut out toward the Rich Mountain 
range, leaving between the opposing steeps a vale, scarcely one- 
third of a mile in width, that affords outlet for the Elkwater 
and a convenient passage for the Huntersville turnpike. For 
miles back from this valley, in each direction, the country is 
rugged and mountainous — a wooded wilderness, with only here 
and there a little clearing hewn out from the forest, to give 
scant room for the inevitable log-cabin and its " patch " of 
ground for corn or potatoes. The turnpike winds along at the 
very foot of the hills which form the outlying sentinels of Rich 
Mountain, while Elkwater Fork runs close under the shadows 
of the Peak and neighboring heights. Between the river and 
the road lay a beautiful meadow, which was traversed by for- 
midable earthworks, consisting of a regular parapet, with a 
ditch in front, and embrasures at favorable points for artillery. 
On the further side of Elkwater, and a few yards in advance 
of the earthworks, was " Rich Mountain Battery," half-hidden 
in the shadows of the forest rising behind and above it, and so 
located that its cannon could sweep the meadow in front of the 
parapet and enfilade the ditch. There were log breastworks on 



TO ELKWATER. 105 

the Peak also, but this elevation was so nearly inaccessible that 
it was regarded rather as a post of observation than a part of 
the line to be defended. The hill-sides across the valley (on 
the Rich Mountain side) were fortified with greater care, how- 
ever, by means of rude redans or open field-works, composed 
of loss and filled in with earth and stones. These were the 
works upon which the Sixth Ohio chiefly expended its energies. 
" Fort Marrow," situated upon a hill above the turnpike, com- 
manded a suspicious-looking ravine leading into camp from 
the westward, and was now garrisoned by Company A, of the 
Third Ohio, to which was afterward added a small detach- 
ment of Loomis' artillery. Acres of forests, covering the hill- 
side on either hand, were felled in the construction of breast- 
^vorks and in clearing away what might prove a cover to the 
enemy ; and altogether, it was evident that, while still not com- 
plete, the defenses had cost no small expenditure of brawn and 
muscle by the troops who had preceded the Sixth Ohio to 
Elkwater. 

Those troops were the Fifteenth Indiana, Colonel Wagner ; 
the Third Ohio, Colonel Isaac H. Marrow, of Columbus ; the 
Seventeenth Indiana, Colonel Milo S. Hascall; the Coldwater 
(Michigan) Battery, Captain C. O. Loomis; and, possibly, one 
or two inconsiderable detachments from other commands. The 
cordial welcome which the Third Ohio, especially, gave the 
Sixth led to a firm and lasting friendship between the two 
regiments. Colonel Kimball's forces on the Summit consisted 
of his own splendid regiment, the Fourteenth Indiana ; the 
Twenty-fourth Ohio, Colonel Jacob Ammen ; the Twenty-fifth 
Ohio, Colonel James A. Jones; Daum's Wheeling Battery, and 
a .detachment of Bracken's cavalry. At the Pass, in addition 
to General Reynolds' cavalry escort, were Colonel Jeremiah C. 
Sullivan's Thirteenth Indiana, and a section of artillery. 



106 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

The camp of the Sixth Ohio was not quite so close to the 
intrenchments as might have been desired, yet as near them as 
was possible under the most liberal construction of General 
Reynolds' orders, which were for the regiment to take position 
between Huttonsville and Elkwater. A high and almost pre- 
cipitous hill frowned down upon it on the right. Across the 
river, to the left, was a fertile stretch of bottom-land, forming 
" Crouch's farm," which figures so conspicuously in rebel de- 
scriptions of the Union stronghold at Cheat Mountain. The 
house of 'Squire Staluaker* — a name and fame never to be 
forgotten by any campaigner at Elkwater — was situated be- 
tween the camp of the "Sixth and that of the Third Ohio, with 
the Indiana camps and the breastworks still further beyond. 

Brady's Gate, the advanced picket station to which, as before 
mentioned, seven companies of the Sixth Ohio were ordered 
on the last day of August, was not situated directly on the 
Huntersville road, but somewhat to the right of it, upon an 
old turpike, abandoned several years before, that led off toward 
Point Mountain. The usual and most direct route to the 
Gate was by a rough wagon path up Elkwater Run, a brawl- 
ing mountain stream which crosses the turnpike rather more 
than a mile beyond where the breastworks were, and empties 
into Elkwater Fork a few yards to the left of the road, and 
nearly opposite the mouth of Stewart's Run. Point Mountain 
had been strongly picketed by Union troops for some time 
past, the practice being to send out an entire regiment, and 
relieve it every three or four days by another from camp. 
From this commanding position the men of the Sixth Ohio 
could see great numbers of rebel pickets running about, with 

* A very common name in several of the mountain counties of West 
Virginia. The map of Virginia, originally published in Jefferson's 
Notes, spells it " Sthalmaker." 



TO ELKWATEE. 107 

no apparent effort at concealment, in the vale below and on 
the slopes beyond. The enemy's main camp, though hidden 
behind intervening hills, was known to be not far distant, and 
on a clear day the cloud of dim blue smoke from its thousands 
of fires was easily discernible. Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson's 
detachment remained at Point Mountain, keeping a watchful 
eye upon every movement along the enemy's outposts, for four 
days, when it was relieved by the Fifteenth Indiana, and, in 
the midst of a drenching rain, returned to Elkwater. A sup- 
ply of old United States muskets, rifled by Miles Greenwood, 
of Cincinnati, and designed to replace the smooth-bore Spring- 
field muskets issued the eight interior companies at Camp 
Dennison, awaited the men at camp, and the exchange was 
accordingly effected next day, calling forth many expressions 
of gratitude toward Mr. Larz Anderson, to whose exertions 
the regiment was largely indebted for its superior armament. 
Compared with the Enfield rifles, with which the flanking 
companies were armed, the Greenwood rifled muskets — caliber 
.69 — were rather cumbrous and homely in appearance, but 
nevertheless proved serviceable and efficient weapons. 

Companies B and K, which had meanwhile continued busily 
at work upon the breastworks, on the evening of September 
4th, received marching orders. Proceeding next morning to 
the camp of the Third Ohio, they fell in behind Companies A 
and H, of that regiment, and the whole force, under Captain 
O. A. Lawson, immediately started, with the object of break- 
ing up a camp of bushwhackers among the mountains, some- 
where in the vicinity of BuUtown, in Braxton County. As 
the country to be passed over was as wild as the scouting 
grounds east of Beverly, and almost equally broken, the or- 
dinary means of transportation, of course, were unavailable; 
two days' rations, therefore, were stowed in the men's haver- 



108 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

sacks, while a couple of sorry-looking pack-horses carried 
provisions for two clays more. For several miles the party 
followed the windings of Elkwater Run (which they forded 
twenty-three times in all), in the midst of a heavy rain that 
had begun falling twenty-four hours before. Shortly after the 
brief halt for dinner, the main party left the valley, and took 
a bridle-path, which, with its opening concealed by laurel 
bushes, struck abruptly off to the right over the mountains. 
Lieutenant Russell, of the Sixth Ohio, who had been placed 
in charge of the " provision train," was delayed a few minutes 
in re-adjusting the badly-packed load which one of the animals 
carried, and, missing the trail, continued up the Run toward 
Brady's Gate, where the mistake was discovered, but too late 
to think of overtaking the expedition that night ; and, finally, 
after a stay of thirty-eight hours with the pickets at the Gate, 
Lieutenant Russell and his little squad of five men returned 
to camp. His absence caused the main party half a day's de- 
lay, and not a little uneasiness. As the sequel proved, how- 
ever, nothing would have been lost and much hard marching 
saved, had it occasioned the total abandonment of the expedi- 
tion ; for, when they halted at dark on the second day out, the 
men learned with chagrin that the work they came to perform 
had already been done by a small party sent out from Buck- 
hannon. Entirely out of rations, the troops next morning 
headed for Elkwater, and, by dint of terrible marching, suc- 
ceeded in reaching it about eleven o'clock that night. Many 
amusing incidents occurred upon the " Bulltown scout." At 
one house, on the mountains, near which the expedition stopped 
to rest, a woman of middle age came out who had never seen 
an American flag. Captain Clarke bade her bring out the 
whole family, a numerous race of tow-headed fledgelings ; 
which done, he had the flag unfurled with all the dramatic 



TO ELKWATEE. 109 

accessories which the occasion could aiFord, greatly to the 
wonder and delight of the unsophisticated female and her 
brood. 

On the same night that the Bulltown expeditionists were 
painfully picking their homeward way, in perfect darkness, 
through the mountain solitudes, a detail of fifty men from the 
Sixth Ohio was groping, rather than marching, to the picket 
stations, four miles or more up Stewart's Run, whither it had 
been ordered to relieve a detachment from one of the Indiana 
regiments. It was originally composed of men from two or 
three different companies, of which Company I was one, but 
nearly the whole remaining force of the latter being sent out 
a day or two later, the other detachments returned to camp. 
Stewart's Run is a tiny tributary of Elkwater Fork, that 
wound its way down a narrow valley running along the front 
of Elkwater camp, at the distance of somewhat more than a 
mile from the fortifications, and extending, perhaps, two-thirds 
of the distance to the Summit, eight or ten miles away. Un- 
fortunately, no definite instructions were transmitted Captain 
Bense, who had charge of the pickets, nor was he enabled to 
obtain any accurate information regarding the topography of 
the country. Scouts, who were sent out next day, reported no 
signs of an enemy immediately in front, but while they were 
gone upon a second expedition,* Lee's advance cut them off 
from Elkwater, and captured Captain Bense, with nearly his 
entire party. 

At camp, meanwhile, the labor of fortifying went on vigor- 
ously. It was something new to most of the Sixth Ohio, 
city bred and accustomed to duties of quite another character ; 

*An interesting narrative of this remarkable scout is given in Part II, 
in the chapter entitled "Cheat Mountain Campaigning." 



110 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

yet there was no repining. The men jested about their pioneer 
style of life, and, with great satisfaction, beheld their strong- 
hold daily growing more and more nearly impregnable. Com- 
pany D rejoined the regiment on Monday, the 9th. The time 
had come when General Reynolds was likely to need every 
available man at the front. 



THE DISCOMFITUEE OF LEE. Ill 



CHAPTER IX. 

THE DISCOMFITURE OF LEE. 

(SEPTEMBER 9-17, 1861.) 

rr^HE beginning of the second week in September found 
-*- General Lee's advance at Marshall's Store, twelve miles 
out on the Huntersville (or, as it is otherwise termed, the Mar- 
lin) turnpike, and only four miles from the junction of the 
Point Mountain turnpike, leading off to Brady's Gate and 
beyond. On Monday, the 9th, a reconnoissance, under Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Richard Owen, of the Fifteenth Indiana, de- 
veloped the enemy in considerable numbers a mile before 
reaching the Store, and some sharp skirmishing ensued, after 
which the Union forces leisurely returned to Elkwater. About 
eleven o'clock, on Wednesday, the 11th, a wet and dreary day, 
Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson received orders to hurry two ad- 
ditional companies out the turnpike, in the direction whither 
Captain Erwin's E and another company had already been dis- 
patched, under Major Christopher. The facts were that Colo- 
nel Hascall's regiment had been attacked that morning on 
Point Mountain, and at that hour was retreating before over- 
powering numbers down Elkwater Run. A little later, the 
head of Lee's main column had struck Companies D and F, 
of the Fifteenth Indiana, posted at the Point Mountain junc- 
tion, under Captain Templeton, and, after shooting down one- 



112 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

half of the little party upon the first picket-post, was forcing 
them back upon Major Christopher's supports, at Conrad's 
Mill, two miles nearer camp and about six miles from the 
breastworks. The rebel column was steadily pushing down the 
valley and closing in upon Elkwater. 

Long-roll was soon beating, and, with no time for inquiry, 
Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson hastened to get the residue of 
the regiment into the trenches ; before which disposition was 
completed, however, Companies D and B — the latter strength- 
ened by a detail of twenty men from Company A — were far 
beyond the breastworks. Arrived at the Ford — the point 
where Elkwater Run crossed the turnpike, more than a mile 
in advance of the fortifications — Company D, under Lieutenant 
Parker, crossed Elkwater Fork and moved up Stewart's Run, 
to the support of Company I's pickets, who were still on duty 
far up the ravine. While Company B, meantime, was waiting 
at the Ford for orders, a body of pickets, and with them Major 
Christopher's detachment, filed moodily by, on their return to 
camp, and soon afterward an ambulance came back with a 
precious freight of wounded. In conjunction with Company 
H, of the Fifteenth Indiana, it was finally ordered to picket 
the turnpike, which was promptly done, the outposts extend- 
ing more than half way to Conrad's Mill, or to within rifle- 
shot of those of the enemy. 

While the main body of General Lee's army was cautiously 
feeling its way down the valley to Conrad's, where, at an early 
hour, it went into bivouac for the night. General Anderson's 
brigade of Tcnnesseeans, after leaving the column in the morn- 
ing, moved rapidly to the head of Stewart's Run, shot down 
two of Captain Bense's pickets, and surrounded and captured 
nearly all the rest, including that officer, and Lieutenants Gil- 
man and Schieffer, who were on duty with him. Counter- 



THE DISCOMFITURE OF LEE. 113 

marching up the Run, it then toiled along the defiles and over 
the spurs of Cheat Mountain, through a rugged and all but 
impenetrable wilderness, toward a point between Elkwater and 
the Summit, at which it was to unite Muth several regiments,* 
detached from the forces of General H. R. Jackson, who had 
moved his command close up to the pickets on the Staunton 
turnpike, and was threatening Kimball's front. Upon the re- 
sult of this movement depended Lee's whole plan of campaign, 
and all the high hopes which had been excited in the breasts 
of his officers, together with the sanguine expectations of the 
cabinet at Richmond. Strengthened by the cooperative brigade 
sent him by Jackson, Anderson was to seize and hold the 
Staunton turnpike, in rear of the Summit, thus completing the 
investment of that stronghold; in addition to which, as it 
would seem, he was to make a real or feint attack upon the 
fortifications. The sound of Anderson's guns had been agreed 
upon as the signal for Lee to hurl his masses upon Elkwater, 
and crush its unsupported garrison, of half a brigade, at one 
blow. Succeeding in that endeavor, as it wms almost impos- 
sible not to do, Kimball could readily be brought to terms, 
leaving an unobstructed passage down the valley to Grafton ; 
Rosecrans, instead of pressing Floyd in the Gauley region, 
would be forced to a right-about, in hot haste, for the banks 
of the Ohio; and, before snow should fall, the conquest of West- 
ern Virginia would be an accomplished fact. Truly, these 
were great expectations; yet to count upon the success of at 
least the first steps to their realization, Avas by no means ex- 
travagant, since not only did Lee's army, of above twelve thou- 

* These were the Third Arkansas, Twenty-third, Thirty-first and Thirty- 
seventh Virr^inia Regiments, and two battalions of Virginia troops — in all, 
about 2,500 men. 



114 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

sand effective men, outnumber Reynolds' forces more than two 
to one, but the rebel commander was confident of turning to 
good account the subdivision of the latter,* in much the same 
way as that by which McClellan had defeated Garnett in the 
Rich Mountain campaign. 

Scarcely had General Anderson's brigade, by herculean ex- 
ertions, gained the desired point on the Staunton turnpike, 
when night closed in, dark and rainy ; but, though few of 
those wet and weary troops could have retraced their route 
over the pathless steeps, they were all there, secreted in the 
dense forest, and ready to strike the premeditated blow on Kim- 
ball's rear. Peering through the gloom, they could descry the 
camp-fires at Elkwater, four miles or more away toward their 
left and rear ; facing in the opposite direction they found them- 
selves confronting Kimball's pickets, who did not discover their 
proximity, however, until next morning, such was the extreme 
caution which characterized their movements. Up to this point, 
the execution of Lee's plans had been perfectly successful in all 
essential particulars. 

Meanwhile, the Union pickets on the front of Elkwater had 
been re-posted as night came on, the better to guard against 
surprise, and about an hour later two companies of the Third 
Ohio came up and took their station in a narrow belt of timber 

* Pollard says : " General Lee was confident that he would be able, by 
strategic movements, to dislodge the enemy from his stronghold, capture 
his forces, and then march his victorious army into the heart of North- 
western Virginia, releasing the people there from the fetters with which, 
for two months, they had been bound. The prospect of such a conquest 

of the enemy was eminently pleasant General Lee's 

plan, finished drawings of which were sent to the War Department, at 
Richmond, was said to have been one of the best laid schemes that ever 
illustrated the consummation of the rules of strategy, or ever went awry 
on account of practical failures in its execution." 



THE DISCOMFITURE OF LEE. 115 

crowning the hill immediately to the left of the Ford, and 
upon the further bank of Elkwater Fork — an important posi- 
tion in the advanced line of the Elkwater defenses (that at the 
Ford), as it commanded perfectly the debouchure of Stewart's 
Run and the approaches down the Huntersville turnpike. It 
was a dreadfully stormy night, without sign of moon or star, 
but it passed without disturbance, save for a single false alarm 
which occurred about nine o'clock. Toward morning the rain 
ceased, and a chilly north-west wind sprang up. Sleepless and 
shelterless, the pickets waited wearily for the aj)proach of day- 
light; at last, it came — 

"Prime cheerer, Light, 
Gf all material things the first and best!" 

Never was dawn more welcome than it was to the guards 
who stretched their shivering forms in the gray light of that 
Thursday morning, September 12th, and then by turns has- 
tened to the reserve posts, where stubborn fires were already 
beginning to smolder, there to warm and dry themselves — 
haply, also, to boil the cup of coiFee that each so much needed. 
Contrary to all expectation, for hours no stir was visible be- 
hind the rebel picket-posts. About 11 A. M., however, a 
squad of mounted scouts came back upon the gallop, reporting 
the rebel columns again in motion, and were shortly followed 
by the appearance of a moving mass of gray, with long lines 
of bright steel gleaming in the sunshine, and five brass field- 
pieces in plain sight. The outposts were immediately called 
in, and, under the direction of Major Keifer, of the Third Ohio, 
preparations were made to give the enemy a warm reception 
should he attempt to force the position at the Ford. Company 
B, of the Sixth Ohio, was deployed as skirmishers across a 
meadow, a short distance in front, with orders for the men to 



116 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

conceal themselves as much as possible by lying down in the 
weeds and tall grass, the line being extended on the right, to- 
ward a high wooded hill, by a company of the Seventeenth In- 
diana, posted behind a rail-fence, while other companies of the 
same command were picketing Elkwater Run. Stewart'^ Run, 
upon the other flank, was still held by Company D, of the Sixth 
Ohio, and the hill-side beyond Elkwater Fork by the two com- 
panies of the Third Ohio. 

At camp, meanwhile, long-roll had again brought the troops 
to the fortifications, soon after which Companies G and K, 
of the Sixth Ohio, were sent forward on a reconnoissance ; but 
Colonel Marrow (who had just taken command at the Ford), 
considering his force sufficiently strong without them, they had 
barely come in sight of the enemy, when they were ordered to 
return. It was late in the afternoon before the regiments at 
the breastworks were dismissed to quarters. 

After pushing forward a strong line of skirmishers, Lee had 
again halted, and, while he waited anxiously for the signal 
guns of Anderson's assault, was improving the time in recon- 
noitering ; discovering which fact, the Union pickets cautiously 
advanced and began a bickering combat Avith his outposts. 
Taking advantage of the protection afforded by a rail-fence, 
Orderly Sergeant Semple and a few men of Company B, of the 
Sixth Ohio, crept forward some distance, and were annoying 
the enemy considerably by the accuracy of their fire, when, 
suddenly, a company clad in gray appeared upon their right 
flank, wdthin most beautiful rifle range, and moving rapidly 
toward them. Some of the men raised their guns to fire, but 
Sergeant Semple bade them desist, until they were sure who the 
party were ; since, at that period, the Indiana regiments in the 
brigade all wore a gray uniform, and at a distance could easily 
be mistaken for the enemy. As soon as the gray coats had 



THE DISCOMFITURE OF LEE. 117 

gained a secure shelter, such a volley was poured in from 
thence upon them as speedily removed all doubts, but some of 
the Seventeenth Indiana coming up from another direction at 
this juncture, the rebels were glad to beat a hasty retreat. 
Another party of the Sixth, which had succeeded in reaching 
an apple orchard half a mile in advance of the Ford, was par- 
ticularly attentive to a pair of splendidly mounted officers, who 
were seen riding along the rebel front taking observations 
with a field-glass. Wheeling their horses about, they quickly 
trotted back out of sight, and scarcely had they done so when 
a puff of blue smoke shot up from behind a screen of bushes, 
and a shell went crashing through the apple-trees overhead. 
In company with the colonels of his Elkwater regiments, 
General Reynolds, just arrived from head-quarters at the Pass, 
was at that moment at the extreme front, reconnoitering the 
enemy's position. Turning to an orderly, he dispatched a 
hurried note to Captain Loomis. Delighted to receive per- 
mission to let slip the dogs of war under his charge, that of- 
ficer soon had a ten-pound Parrott unlimbering at the Ford, 
and began hurling shell at the enemy, who, strangely cautious, 
made no reply. 

As the afternoon waned, it became evident that Lee had 
given up all intention of attacking that day. Company B's 
skirmishers were called in, and, together with Company D, 
which had come down Stewart's Run upon the double-quick, 
when the firing at the Ford broke out, was ordered into posi- 
tion for the night upon the hill-side, where one company of 
the Third Ohio still remained. The sun's last rays had just 
faded from the neighboring heights when the troops at the Ford 
heard a tremendous cheering from the direction of camp, so loud 
and long-continued that the rebels must have heard it likewise 
and wondered at its meaning, and in a few minutes a horse- 



118 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

man was seen to slioot out from behind the intrenchments and 
dash along the turnpike at full speed. Almost standing up 
in the stirrups, he was waving his hat wildly above his head — 
as well one might who brought, at such a time, intelligence of 
victory : Carnifex Ferry * had been fought and won ! 

Inspiriting though these tidings were, there was much in the 
attitude of affairs immediately around Elkwater to occasion anx- 
iety. All communication with the Summit had been cut off 
since the night before ; Lieutenant Merrill, riding leisurely 
along the Staunton turnpike, had been captured early in the 
morning, only a short distance beyond Colonel Sullivan's 
pickets from the Pass; large bodies of the enemy were known 
to be somewhere among the mountains between the Union 
camps ; and heavy volleys of musketry had been heard at dif- 
ferent times from the direction of the Summit, with what sig- 
nificance could only be surmised. Satisfied, however, that 
Kimball, within his mountain fortress, would be able to hold 
out against any odds the enemy could direct upon him. Gen- 
eral Reynolds was chiefly concerned lest the rebel commander 
should concentrate his forces and fall at once on Elkwater, the 
left flank of which was peculiarly vulnerable. But the Thir- 
teenth Indiana was resolutely holding the Pass, with the con- 

* The action at Carnifex Ferry was fought on the afternoon of Tuesday, 
September 10th, Floyd making good his escape during the night. Rose- 
crans' official dispatch to the War Department is a remarkably plain and 
matter-of-fact document, but the affair, nevertheless, received such a col- 
oring from newspaper and other accounts that it went forth to the coun- 
try, not merely as a tangible success, which it undoubtedly was, but as a 
victory of great importance, which it was not, in any point of view. When 
the first news of Carnifex reached Elkwater, it was speedily subjected to 
the most absurd exaggeration — to the extent even that Rosecrans had 
captured several thousand prisoners, and was then pressing hard on the 
rear of Lee's forces in front of Cheat Mountain. 



THE DISCOMFITUEE OF LEE. 119 

siderable reenforcement of the Second Virginia, Colonel Moss 
commanding, on its way thither, by a forced night march from 
Beverly. At whatever cost, the Cheat Mountain Gaps were 
to be held. The alternative of retreat was a thought which 
no officer or man of Reynolds' little division entertained for 
a moment. 

Night folded the beleaguered camp under her peaceful 
wing. At the Ford, pickets had been carefully posted, and 
the supports on the hill-side, worn by the loss of the previous 
night's rest, early lay down under the trees and slept undis- 
turbed. In camp the day had been well-nigh as busy and 
exciting as at the front. Quartermasters had packed their 
stores in readiness for immediate transportation ; hospital tents 
and supplies, with ambulances along-side, were moved up 
nearer the scene of conflict that was to be, and wagon trains 
were got ready to start as soon as it might become necessary. 
In the evening, seven companies of the Third Ohio, and Com- 
panies E, G, and K, of the Sixth Ohio, the whole force under 
Colonel Marrow, received orders to march at 3 A. M. next 
day, to force a passage to the Summit, and re-open communi- 
cation at all hazards. The Thirteenth Indiana and Second 
Virginia were to cooperate in this movement from the Pass. 

It was five o'clock on the morning of Friday, September 
13th, before Colonel Marrow's detachment got fairly under 
way, less than two miles from camp striking a mountain 
path strewn with blankets and cast-oflf clothing, which led the 
troops to suspect the rebels were retreating. The advance was, 
nevertheless, continued with great caution, with the Sixth Ohio 
companies thrown forward as skirmishers, until authentic in- 
formation of the enemy's movements could be obtained, as it 
soon was. General Anderson's attack upon Kimball's rear 
had been met by a most gallant resistance, and now his ex- 



120 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

hausted battalions were in panic-stricken flight toward Jack- 
son's camp on the south-eastern slopes of Cheat Mountain. 
Passing a gory and horrible scene where a body of rebels had 
been repulsed on Thursday, the expedition kept on to the 
Summit, and, having fully accomplished its object, on the next 
day returned to Elkwater.* 

On Friday morning, the troops at the Ford were in line of 
battle before day -break, waiting in vain for the expected assault. 
A skirmish party from the Fifteenth Indiana was sent out dur- 
ing the forenoon for the purpose of feeling the enemy, and, if 
possible, to dislodge his pickets from the apple orchard before 
referred to. This work it did handsomely, with no further loss 
than one man wounded in the arm, after which the party filled 
their pockets with apples, and leisurely returned to the Ford. 
Meanwhile, Loomis had again opened out on the head of the 
rebel column, with such effect as to cause it to withdraw out 
of range in considerable haste, the rebel guns making no an- 
swer, though plainly visible from the tree-tops on the eminence 
where the Sixth Ohio supports were stationed. As no tidings 
had yet been received from the Summit, few surmised the real 
cause of the enemy's inactivity, namely, the miscarriage of 
General Anderson's expedition, from which, forecasting the 
failure of the campaign, Lee was already wavering in his pur- 
pose of attacking Elkwater. 

* For a fuller account of this expedition the reader is referred to the 
chapter entitled "Cheat Mountain Campaigning," in Part II. The march 
to the Summit ^^as repeated on Monday, the 16th of September, by Com- 
panies C, y. G md K, of the Sixth Ohio, and four companies of the Third 
Ohio, unuer iJeutenant-Colonel Anderson, who was charged with the duty 
of guarding a supply train sent up from the Pass. By that time, how- 
ever, Jackson was preparing to withdraw from Kimball's front, and Lee 
had already retired beyond Marshall's Store. 



THE DISCOMFITURE OF LEE. 121 

Between three and four o'clock in the afternoon, the troops 
on the hill-side were startled by a sharj) volley of musketry on 
the right, a short distance up Elkwater Run, down which a 
squad of the Seventeenth Indiana were seen coming a few 
minutes afterward, carrying a rude litter, on which lay the 
dead body of a rebel officer. The corpse was brought to camp 
and there recognized by Captain Loomis and Lieutenant Wil- 
liam P. Anderson, as that of John A. Washin*gton, once the 
sordid possessor of Mount Vernon, whose treason had given 
him a lieutenant-colonel's rank upon the staff of General Lee. 
Reconnoitering in company with two other officers, he had 
ridden directly into a body of pickets secreted among the 
bushes, and fell from his saddle at their first volley, pierced 
through the breast with three bullets, his companions making 
their escape, although one of them with a severe wound. Col- 
onel Washington lived a short time, but never spoke, except 
to feebly ask for water. Upon his person were found maps of 
the Cheat Mountain region and various plans, together with a 
printed scrap, originally published in a Northern newspaper, 
giving the strength of General Reynolds' command, and min- 
utely describing the Elkwater fortifications. 

Another lovely morning dawned, in the same quiet as that 
of the preceding day. It had been decided to return the body 
of Colonel Washington to his friends, and soon after break- 
fast, Lieutenant-Colonel Wilder, of the Seventeenth Indiana, 
to whom this duty had been intrusted, rode forward under a 
flag of truce, followed by an ambulance bearing the corpse. 
A short distance out, he met Lieutenant-Col on v.1 Stark, of a 
Louisiana regiment, coming toward the Union I'l Oo '• Ich a 
message of inquiry from General Lee in regard to the fate ot 
his subordinate. Lieutenant-Colonel Stark was visibly af- 



122 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

fected at the sight of the dead body, but speedily recovering 
his composure, the 

" Foemen, side by side, 
Sat peaceful down, like brothers tried," 

and conversed together at some length, without once touching 
upon the subject of the war. It was ten o'clock before Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Wilder repassed the Union outposts. The 
long-continued reticence of the enemy now began to be inter- 
preted as betokening retreat, notwithstanding which, consider- 
able bodies of the rebels could still be seen hovering close upon 
the front, so long as daylight remained. A corporal of the Sixth 
Ohio, undertaking a scout beyond Stewart's Run, upon private 
account, narrowly escaped capture, which he did simply by 
superior soundness in wind and limb. 

When Sunday morning broke, no enemy was in sight. Gen- 
eral Jackson did, indeed, make another futile demonstration 
on the Summit later in the day; but his commander-in-chief 
was thoroughly disheartened and had abandoned the contest. 
That Lee was misled by prisoners and the report of Ander- 
son's demoralized troops, as to the strength of the forces op- 
posed to him, admits of no doubt. It is no less certain that 
had he thrown the whole weight of his main column upon 
Elkwater, even after the rout of Anderson's brigade, his plans 
for dislodging Reynolds from the Cheat Mountain Gaps might 
have been successfully carried out in all essential particulars. 
But Lee's genius was not of the Stonewall Jackson type, quick 
to decide, daring and impetuous in execution. Nature richly 
endowed him as a defensive strategist, but the correlative traits 
of a master in war he never possessed. The keen disappoint- 
ment that was felt at Richmond, at the result of the Cheat 
Mountain campaign, is most valuable testimony to the extent 



THE DISCOMFITURE OF LEE. 123 

of the services there rendered the Union cause by General 
Reynolds' little command. 

The following is General Reynolds' official report : 

Head-quarters F'irst Brigade I. V. M., ) 
Elkwater, Sept. 17, 1861. I 

George L. Hartsuff, Assistant Adjutant- General, Department Ohio. 

Sir : The operations of this brigade for the past few days may 
be summed up as follows : Ou the 12th inst. the enemy, nine 
thousand strong, with eight to twelve pieces of artillery, under 
command of General R. E. Lee, advanced on this position by the 
Huntersville turnpike. Our advanced pickets — portions of the 
Fifteenth Indiana and Sixth Ohio — gradually fell back to our main 
picket station ; two companies of the Seventeenth Indiana, under 
Colonel Hascall, checking the enemy's advance at the Point Mountain 
turnpike, and then falling back on the regiment, which occupied a 
very advanced position on our right fi-ont, and which was now or- 
dered in. The enemy threw into the woods on our left front three 
regiments, who made their way to the right and rear of Cheat Mount- 
ain, took a position on the road leading to Huttonsville, broke the 
telegraph wire, and cut off our communication with Colonel Kimball's 
Fourteenth Indiana on Cheat Summit. Simultaneously, another 
force of the enemy, of about equal strength, advanced by the Staun- 
ton pike on the front of Cheat Mountain, and threw two regiments 
to the right and rear of Cheat Summit, which united with the three 
regiments from the other column of the enemy. (The two posts, 
Cheat Summit and Elkwater, are seven (?) miles apart by a bridle- 
path over the mountain, and eighteen miles by the wagon road, via 
Huttonsville — "Cheat Mountain Pass," the former head-quarters 
of the brigade, being at the foot of the mountain, ten miles from 
the Summit). The enemy, advancing toward the Pass, by which 
he might possibly have gained the rear or left of Elkwater, was 
met there by three companies of the Thirteenth Indiana, ordered 
up for that purpose, and by one company of the Fourteenth Indi- 



124 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

ana from the Summit. These four companies engaged and held 
in cheek greatly superior numbers of the enemy, foiled him in his 
attempt to obtain the rear or left of Elkwater, and threw him into 
the right and rear of Cheat Mountain, the companies retiring to the 
Pass, at the foot of the mountains. 

The enemy, about five thousand strong, was closed in on Cheat 
Summit, and became engaged with detachments of the Fourteenth 
Indiana and Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Ohio, from the Sum- 
mit — in all, only about three hundred men — who, deployed in the 
woods, held in check and killed many of the enemy, who did not 
at any time succeed in getting sufficiently near the field redoubt 
to give Daum's battery an opportunity of firing into him. So 
matters rested at dark on the 12th, with heavy forces in front and 
in plain sight of both posts, communication cut off, and the sup- 
ply train for the mountain, loaded with provisions which were 
needed, waiting for an opportunity to pass up the road. Deter- 
mined to force a communication with Cheat Summit, I ordered the 
Thirteenth Indiana, under Colonel Sullivan, to cut their way, if 
necessary, by the mail road, and the greater part of the Third 
Ohio and Second Virginia, under Colonels Marrow and Moss re- 
spectively, to do the same by the path ; the two commands start- 
ing at three o'clock A. M., on the 13th — the former from Cheat 
Mountain Pass, and the latter from Elkwater, so as to fall upon 
the enemy, if possible, simultaneously. Early on the 13th, the 
small force of about three hundred from the Summit engaged the 
enemy, and with such effect that, notwithstanding his greatly su- 
perior numbers, he retired in great haste and disorder, leaving 
large quantities of clothing and equipments on the ground ; and 
our relieving forces, failing to catch the enemy, marched to the 
Summit, securing the provision train, and re-opening our commu- 
nication. 

While this was taking place on the mountain, and as yet un- 
known to us, the enemy, under Lee, advanced on Elkwater, ap- 
parently for a general attack. One rifled ten-pound Parrott gun, 



THE DISCOMFITURE OF LEE. 125 

from Loomis' battery, was run to the front three-fourths of a mile, 
and delivered a few shots at the enemy, doing fine execution, 
causing him to withdraw out of convenient range. Our relative 
positions remained unchanged until near dark, when we learned 
the result of the movement on the mountain, as above stated, and 
the enemy retired somewhat for the night. 

On the 14th, early, the enemy was again in position in front of 
Elkwater, and a few rounds, supported by a company of the Fif- 
teenth Indiana, were again administered, which caused him to 
withdraw as before.* The forces that had been before repulsed 
from Cheat returned, and were again driven back by a compara- 
tively small force from the mountain. The Seventeenth Indiana 
was oi'dered up the path to open communication and make way for 
another supply train; but, as before, found the little band from 
the Summit had already done the work. During the afternoon of 
the 14th, the enemy withdrew from before Elkwater, and is now 
principally concentrated some ten miles from this post, at or near 
his main camp. On the 15th, he appeared in stronger force than 
at any previous time in front of Cheat, and attempted a flank 
movement by the left, but was driven back by the ever-vigilant 
and gallant garrison of the field redoubt on the Summit. To-day, 
the enemy has also retired from the front of Cheat, but to what 
precise position I am not yet informed. 

The results of these afi'airs are, that we have killed near one 
hundred of the enemy, including Colonel John A. Washington, 
aid-de-camp to General Lee, and have taken about twenty pris- 
oners. We have lost nine killed, including Lieutenant Junod, 
Fourteenth Indiana, two missing, and about sixty prisoners, 
including Captain James Bense and Lieutenants Gilman and 

* The date here given is erroneous. The writer was one of the de- 
tachment on the hill-side above the Ford, and is very positive that the 
events referred to in this sentence, took place on Friday, the 13th, as be- 
fore narrated. 



126 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

Schieffer, of the Sixth Ohio, and Lieutenant Merrill, of the 
Engineers. 

I append the reports of Colonel Kimball, Fourteenth Indiana; 
Captain Higgins, Twenty-fourth Ohio; and Lieutenant-Colonel 
Owens and Colonel Wagner, of the Fifteenth Indiana. 

J. J. REYNOLDS, 

Brigadier- General Commanding First Brigade. 

Of the reports above enumerated, Colonel Wagner's is the 
only one possessing sufficient interest in connection with our 
narrative to justify its introduction here. Omitting a few de- 
tails in regard to the killed and wounded of the Fifteenth 
Indiana, it is as follows : ^ 

Head-quarters Fifteenth Regiment ) 
Indiana Vols., Sept. 12, 1861. i 
Brigadier- General J. J. Reynolds^ 

Sir : On the 9th of the present month, I ordered Captain Tem- 
pleton to take Companies D and F, and take possession of, and 
hold the Point Mountain pike, supported by Major Christopher, 
of the Sixth Regiment, Ohio, with one hundred men, at Conrad's 
Mills, two miles in the rear. The first was about eight miles in 
advance of my camp, and four miles from the enemy's encampment. 

On the morning of the 11th, Captain Templeton's pickets were 
attacked by the enemy's column advancing down the road; they 
fell back on the main force — the enemy still advancing in force. 
Captain Templeton dispatched a dragoon for reenforcements. I 
immediately sent the left wing of the Fifteenth Indiana, under 
command of Major Wood, with orders to hold the position ; but 
soon after, a scout (who had been posted three miles east of Cap- 
tain Templeton, with instructions to report to n;e any movement 
of the enemy on the left flank) came in and reported a column of two 
thousand troops marching in this direction, with the evident in- 
tention of cutting off Captain Templeton and Major Christopher 



THE DISCOMFITURE OF LEE. 127 

I immediately sent orders for the entire force to fall back or the 
main force, which they did in good order, bringing off their 
wounded — having two men killed, one taken prisoner, and three 

wounded At this time, you arrived on the 

ground, and took command. Let me say that officers and men all 
did their duty, and I must be allowed to commend to your notice 
Sergeant Thompson, of Company D, who had command of the 
first party engaged, as well as the men with him, who stood and 
fought until half of the party were shot down before they would 
fall back. 

I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant, 

a. D. WAGNER, 
Colonel Fifteenth Ind. Vols. 



128 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 



CHAPTER X. 
THE CAMPAIGN DKAWS TO A CLOSE. 

(SEPTEMBER 18-OCTOBER 8, 1861.) 

rr^HE repulse of Lee's army brought a welcome feeling of 
-^ relief to the troops of General Reynolds' little division; 
and, indeed, there was cause for rejoicing, and even for exulta- 
tion, in the fact that a substantial success had been achieved, at 
a cost far less than the most sanguine dared count upon one 
week before. As has been shown, however, it was not wholly 
a bloodless victory ; the Sixth Ohio, in consequence of the un- 
fortunate aifair up Stewart's Run, being the principal sufferer 
at Elk water. 

The line which Captain Bense, with his fifty men, had been 
sent out to picket, was not less than three or four miles in 
length ; and not only was it entirely unsupported and the po- 
sition an isolated one, but the troops there stationed had not 
even been accustomed to keep up regular communication with 
camp. When Anderson's brigade came pouring down the 
valley, the outermost picket-post was held by two Swiss, 
Gregoire Yehle and Jacob Helflicker, who stood their ground 
manfully, but were quickly shot down, and left in the woods 
where they fell. Yehle was killed instantly. Helflicker was 
found a week afterward at a log hut further up the Run, with 
a portion of his skull shot away, but still alive, although in- 



THE CAMPAIGN DRAWS TO A CLOSE. 129 

sensible. His wound presented a sickening spectacle, from the 
operations of vermin, to destroy which the woman who, with 
her family, tenanted the hovel, had poured in turpentine, the 
only remedy she had. Dr. Loving had the wounded man 
brought back to the regimental hospital, where, in a few weeks, 
he partially regained the use of his faculties, and continued to 
improve until the regiment was ordered to Kentucky, yet 
eventually died of his wounds, in a general hospital at Cin- 
cinnati. 

The force captured up Stewart's Run, consisted of three 
officers and forty-seven enlisted men, as follows. Lieutenant 
Gilman had performed valuable service during the scouting ex- 
peditions from Beverly, and, in fact, all the unfortunate officers 
were accounted brave and competent. The enlisted men were 
all from Company I: 

Captain James Bense, Company I. 

Second Lieutenant Charles Gilman, Company C. 

Second Lieutenant Frank S. SehieflPer, Company F. 

1st Serg't "Wesley B. McLane, Private Joseph Dreher, 

" John Hanley, " Fred'k Ellerman, 

" Ferd. McDonough, " Samuel Erminger, 

Corporal Chas. Fahlbusch, " Robert Finley, 

" Henry S. Gibson, " Wm. Forristall, 

" William Langenbeim, " Antoine Frave, 

" Thomas Long, " August Grass, 

" John Williams, " Edwin Green, 

Private B. Frank Brabm, " Henry Harmyer, 

" Adolph Bruner, « Fred'k W. Heckert, 

" Henry Buddenbaum, " Otto Hof, 

*' George Burner, " David Hummell, 

" James Carson, " William Jurgens, 

" Michael Connell, " Jacob Landis, 

9 



130 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

Private George S. La Rue, Private Orlando M. Smith, 

" Jacob Lesie, " Christian Schweitzer, 

" John Little, " Wm. Y. Thoburn, 

" Thomas Marshall, " Wm. C. Weber, 

" Eli Miller, " Sylvester Weber, 

" Hiram Mosier, " William Wenzel. 

" John Oysterboy, " James Wilson, 

" John L. Rea, " William Yager, 

" Timothy Ryan, " John Zimmerman. 

" Matthias Seibert, 

Under a strong guard, the prisoners were marched to the 
first night's resting-place of Anderson's brigade on the mount- 
ains, from whence, almost looking down upon their own tents 
at Elkwater, they eagerly watched, through all that dismal 
night, for some opportunity to escape. Once they raised the 
cry of " Bear ! bear I " and in the confusion that followed, pri- 
vate Edward Hof gave his guard the slip, sprang down a steep 
ledge of rocks, and late next day got back to camp, half dead 
with hunger and fatigue. The ruse was repeated in various 
forms, but without further success. Next day the captives 
were sent back to the main army in front of Elkwater. To 
all inquiries respecting the strengtli and position of the Union 
forces, they answered evasively or else with exaggerations that 
were any thing but calculated to give aid and comfort to the 
enemy. On Saturday they were marched southward, and turn- 
ing their backs upon Elkwater, found themselves fairly en route 
for Richmond, the party including, besides the Sixth Ohio 
pickets, Lieutenant Merrill and a squad from the Thirteenth 
Indiana, captured by Anderson's forces on Cheat Mountain. 
Throughout their weary and foot-sore march, the prisoners 
every-where excited much curiosity, and were sometimes the 
objects of coarse and bitter vituperation, as at one point, for 



THE CAMPAIGN DRAWS TO A CLOSE. 131 

example, Avhere an old gray-haired planter met the coliunn, and, 
M'ith terrible oaths, asked the privilege of shooting at the Yan- 
kees at fifty cents a shot. Dr. Fletcher,* who had been captured 
a few weeks previous, was at Huntersville when the ^prisoners 
passed through there, and entreated to be taken along with the 
rest, notwithstanding that he was yet suffering from the effects 
of a severe attack of illness. Upon the urgent representations 
of Captain Bense and the other officers, a well-dispositioned 
mule was pressed into service, and, thus mounted, the invalid 
made the journey with comparative comfort. Since then, 
Dr. Fletcher has publicly acknowledged the kindness of his 
fellow-captives in the warmest terras. By the time the pris- 
oners reached the railroad, which they finally did at a point 
between Covington and Staunton, they were worn out with 
hard marching, and suffering greatly from hunger. At Staun- 
ton, however, a substantial supper was furnished them, and a 
day or two later saw the whole party within the well-guarded 
walls of a rebel prison at Richmond. Their place of confine- 
ment was an old tobacco warehouse, (" Libby Prison " being at 
that time a name and doom unknown,) where, for the present, 
we must leave them. 

The importance of retaining a firm hold upon the Cheat 
Mountain region was generally appreciated at the North, now 
that it had been so nearly lost; and scarcely had Lee's army 
settled down again in its old quarters when General Kcynolds 
began to receive heavy reenforcements from Ohio and Indiana. 

*l)r. William Fletcher, of Indianapolis, an efficient and daring scout 
during the first months of the war, was originally a volunteer aid to Gen- 
eral McClcllan, but at the time of his capture was performing duty on 
the staff of General Reynolds. His services were purely voluntary, as he 
neither held a commission nor received any pay. 



132 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

Before the 24tli of September, the Ninth and Seventh Indiana — 
reorganized under their old commanders, Colonels Milroy and 
Dumont, respectively — Howe's splendidly ap2)ointed company 
of regular artillery, and two companies of the First Ohio Cav- 
alry, had reached Elkwater ; the Thirty -second Ohio, Colonel 
Thomas H. Ford commanding, had come up as far as Iluttons- 
ville, and were in camp there; while Beverly was garrisoned 
by Company H, of the Fifth Ohio. The removal of brigade 
head-quarters to Elkwater had been followed by the transfer of 
the Thirteenth Indiana, with the Second Virginia, to the same 
post, the camp at the Pass being broken up. Heartily though 
all at Elkwater welcomed these accessions to their numbers, 
there was an unmistakable feeling of disappointment, so far 
as the Sixth Ohio was concerned, when it came to be seen what 
a change reorganization had brought about in its old comrades, 
the Seventh and Ninth Indiana, in which, though many wore 
upon the sleeve the honorable badge of reenlistment, the large 
majority were green troops. Both commands, nevertheless, 
possessed a terrible capacity for fighting, as many a hard-fought 
field, from the James River to the Chattahoochee, afterward bore 
most glorious testimony. 

On the 26th of September an expedition left Camp Elk- 
water, upon a reconnoissance in force, consisting of the Thir- 
teenth Indiana and Sixth Ohio regiments — the latter turning 
out near eight hundred strong — a section of Loomis' artillery, 
under Lieutenant Gilham, and a small detachment of Bracken's 
cavalry, the whole under command of Colonel Sullivan, of the 
Thirteenth Indiana. Five miles beyond the fortifications it 
was overtaken by a pouring rain, soon after which darkness 
came on, and the main body halted for the night near Conrad's 
Mill — Companies B and G, of the Sixth Ohio, and two others, 
being thrown forward to picket the passes and cross-roads to 



THE CAMPAIGN DRAWS TO A CLOSE. 133 

the distance of about two miles further. Again moving for- 
ward, after a night of unceasing rain, the main cokmin cau- 
tiously felt its way along the turnpike, while Companies C and 
F, of the Sixth Ohio, and Company C, of the Thirteenth Indiana, 
were moved up by a circuitous route, with instructions to fall 
upon the enemy's flank should he attempt to make a stand at 
Marshall's Store, where he was reported to have a strong out- 
post ; but the column reunited at that point without firing a 
shot, the rebel pickets having been called in and concentrated 
nearer their principal camp, which was at Big Spring, six miles 
beyond. Major Foster, of the Thirteenth Indiana, was then 
ordered forward with six companies of infantry and one piece 
of artillery to reconnoiter the rebel position upon Mingo Flats, 
which is an elevated plateau, well cleared of timber, about two 
miles beyond Marshall's Store. The road had been terribly 
cut up, and, under the heavy rain which was still falling, 
hourly grew worse, so that it was only with great difficulty 
that Lieutenant Gilham succeeded in getting his piece forward. 
About eleven o'clock, ho\vever, the pickets were encountered, 
and driven in, which was quickly followed by the sound of 
long-roll from the rebel camp beyond, and the appearance of 
considerable numbers of the enemy moving into position. There 
was some further skirmishing, but with very little effect — not 
enough to disturb Colonel Sullivan and other officers, as they 
rode to the front and deliberately examined the rebel position ; 
and, meanwhile, the storm increased, with the accompaniment 
of a cold north-east wind. For an hour and a half the troops 
stood shivering in the rain, awaiting orders, then faced about, 
and, with quickened step, set out for camp. At Marshall's 
Store, where the main body had been resting meantime, the 
column was hurriedly reformed, the Sixth Ohio in advance,, 
and the left of the regiment in front. 



134 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

The Tygart's Valley River was a brawling streamlet, scarcely 
knee-deep, wlien the troops forded it that morning — once about 
two miles below Marshall's Store, and again just on reaching 
that hamlet. But now it had swollen out of its banks, and 
ran a cnrrent so swift and strong that fording was dangerous 
in the extreme. Captain Russell, of the Sixth Ohio, lost his 
footing, but was rescued by a cavalryman; Quartermaster 
Shoemaker, wdio was swept from his horse, narrowly escaped 
drowning; and several guns were lost during the perilous pas- 
sage by the troops. Fortunately, a tottering foot-log, bridging 
the deepest part of the stream, was still in position, and of this 
availing themselves, most of the men succeeded in crossing 
w^ithout serious accident. "While the head of the column was 
thus ''tediously filing over, a party in the rear burnt to the 
ground the mill and store which, together with a little frame 
church, constituted the principal part of the village, both build- 
ings being the property of the Marshall from whom the place 
takes its name — a wealthy and notorious secessionist, at that 
time absent with Lee's army. 

" The next ford," says the diary of a private soldier in the 
Sixth Ohio, "we reached about half-past two o'clock, but 
fording was out of the question. Our pretty little mountain 
stream had become a fierce and roaring torrent, over one's 
head in depth, and covering the narrow vale from hill to hill. 
It was still rising with fearful rapidity, and the rain at no time 
falling faster. For a minute or more we stood on the bank in 
boding uncertainty. Field, staif, and cavalrymen, there were 
soon several horsemen at the head of the column, yet none who 
would venture into the untried depths of that rushing flood, 
until Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson rode forward. '■ Let me 
try it,' I heard him say, dashing into the current as he spoke. 
*■ Hold his head up stream ! ' shouted a dozen voices from the 



THE CAMPAIGN DRAWS TO A CLOSE. 135 

shore, but the roar of the waters must have drowned the sound 
before it reached him. Carefully and steadily he moved on, 
steed and rider seeming to understand perfectly their part, their 
peril, and each other. The main bed of the stream was far 
toward the opposite bank, which was almost gained, when down 
went the gray, at a single step, eight inches below the belly- 
girths. I held my breath, and so did all, as with two or three 
desperate plunges the horse regained his footing, and the rider 
his balance ; and in another moment the noble gray stood drip- 
ping on the bank. Wet and wretched though we were, off 
went our hats, and we cheered with a will. 

" There was a foot-log here, too, the farther end of it resting 
on a number of old, half-imbedded logs which, although high 
and dry enough at an ordinary stage of water, were now rap- 
idly being submerged. Creeping along the base of the hill, we 
managed to get out, one by one, upon the log, and began cross- 
ing. I passed over next behind Captain Andrews. We soon 
saw that the frail bridge could not last much longer, and by 
gestures tried to warn those upon the other side not to follow, 
but in vain. Companies B and G had all come over, and 
Company K was following as rapidly as possible, when one 
of the men belonging to it fell from the swaying log into the 
middle of the stream, and was swept out of sight in an instant. 
His horror-stricken comrades from either shore saw him reel — 
a sudden plunge into the flood, a momentary glimj)se of an 
empty haversack floating on the surface, and that was all. 
His name was Frank Guhra, an unmarried German, known 
throughout the regiment as probably the smallest man in its 
ranks. No one attempted to cross after this, and a few min- 
utes later the pier-logs lifted, and the foot-bridge went careen- 
ing down the rapids." 

Upon one side of the now impassable torrent were Lieuten- 



136 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

ant-Colonel Anderson, a portion of the regimental staff, and 
about two hundred men of the Sixth Ohio; upon the other, 
the main party rested, with the wagons, ambulances, and artil- 
lery. It was evident that both detachments must pass the 
night where they were, wdiich, in consideration of the largely 
superior force that the rebels were believed to have only a 
few miles in the rear, was not exactly a comfortable prospect. 
Giving little thought to the situation, however, the men built 
blazing fires, cooked their pork, and prepared to snatch what 
sleep might be possible amid such surroundings. Toward 
evening, the rain ceased, the wind veered around to the west- 
w^ard, and although the night was black darkness itself, the 
storm was at an end. 

When daylight came, it revealed the fact that the waters had 
fallen considerably, and the troops immediately resumed their 
homeward journey, traces of the storm appearing upon all 
sides. The road had been almost washed away at some points, 
and at others was buried beneath huge land-slides. In more 
than one place the river had cut out for itself an entirely new 
channel; one of the fords was blockaded by two large pine 
trees, torn up by the roots, and a perfect raft of smaller drift ; 
and at the last ford, three miles from the breastworks, the 
stream was still so deep that the column was obliged to wait 
four hours before it could safely cross. Late in the afternoon 
the w^eary and bedraggled troops reached Camp Elkwater, 
where a most distressing sight met the Sixth Ohio. The river 
had risen to such an extent the previous night that it covered 
the vale from the turnpike almost to Crouch's, or until the 
beautiful camp in the maple grove was four feet under water. 
A dirty stain, far up the outside of every tent, marked the 
greatest height of the waters, whose receding had left a slimy 
deposit on the greensward two inches in depth. The flood 



THE CAMPAIGN DRAM'S TO A CLOSE. 137 

came on suddenly, and rose with unexampled rapidity — such 
that the few guards left at camp had with difficulty succeeded 
in saving a part of the regimental stores and camp equipage, 
the remainder either floating away or being ruined by the 
water. Some of the officers lost their mess-chests, with con- 
tents, and one or two entire companies of the right wing were 
in the same predicament, but happily, although there were sev- 
eral narrow escapes recounted, no lives had been lost. Fresh, 
clean straw had been furnished the tents, which were cold and 
damp ; a good supper put new heart into all, and, having dried 
their blankets thoroughly, the men sought them early, and 
slept soundly. A bright and glorious day — a quiet, Sabbath 
day — succeeded, and all was well again at Elkwater. 

The testimony of rebel deserters, the reports of scouts, and 
the information Colonel Sullivan had gleaned upon this recon- 
noissance, all concurred in picturing the rebel force yet remain- 
ing at Mingo Flats as much demoralized and suffering greatly 
from disease, and these circumstances, taken in connection with 
the lateness of the season, convinced General Reynolds that 
Elkwater was not likely to be again attacked. Facing Cheat 
Mountain Summit, however, and distant from it about twelve 
miles, General Jackson still held a strongly-fortified position at 
" Camp Bartow," near the point on the Monterey turnpike in- 
dicated on the maps as " Traveler's Repose," which is merely a 
noted tavern in the Greenbrier Valley, lying between Greenbrier 
Mountain and the principal range of the Alleghanies. Regard- 
ing this camp as a standing menace, the troops on the Summit 
longed to drive back or capture the brigade there posted; a 
soldierly impulse that General Reynolds was quite willing to 
gratify as far as possible, and the more so as he was anxious 
to ascertain definitely the enemy's position and strength. At 
the same time the idea of permanently occupying Camp Bar- 



138 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

tow, and thus still further lengthening a line of communication 
and supplies already inconveniently long, was not to be enter- 
tained for a moment ; in accordance with which views an armed 
reconnoissance was planned, resulting in the battle of Green- 
brier, so-called, fought on Thursday, the 3d of October. This 
aifair was simply a brilliant artillery duel, the infantry having 
little to do after driving in the enemy's pickets. Of the Elk- 
water forces, there were present the Seventh, Ninth, Thirteenth, 
rifteenth, and Seventeenth Indiana Hegiments, and the bat- 
teries of Howe and Loomis. The Third and Sixth Ohio and 
the Second Virginia Regiments were left at camp, with orders 
to maintain a bold front on the Huntersville turnpike, and to 
hold themselves in readiness to march to the Summit at a mo- 
ment's notice, if called upon. The movement on Greenbrier 
was inconsequential, and the Elkwater detachments next day 
returned to their own camp, where their arrival Avas attended 
with a tragedy of the saddest character. 

"About two o'clock in the afternoon," writes a member of 
the Sixth Ohio, " our camp was startled by the report of a gun 
from the direction of the river, back of Company H's quarters. 
I was sitting at the foot of the maple-tree overshadowing our 
tent, making an entry in my diary, when, lifting my eyes, I 
saw a crowd of men running toward the spot in great haste 
and confusion. 'Somebody shot!' they cried, upon which I 
jumped up and ran with the rest. The mournful particulars 
were as follows : A young man, belonging to the Seventeenth 
Indiana, who had fallen a short distance behind his company 
on its return from Greenbrier, was fording the river, and had 
reached the middle of the stream, when a water-snake suddenly 
darted out from between his feet. Without stopping to take 
a second thought, he raised his gun and fired. Lieutenant 
Bidwell, of the Sixth Ohio, with several others, was watching 



THE CAMPAIGN DEAWS TO A CLOSE. 139 

him from the bank, and exclaimed, 'Don't point that gnn 
this way!' but it was too late. The ball glanced from the 
water's surface, struck the unhappy officer in the right breast, 
and, obliquing upward, passed entirely through his body. He 
staggered a moment, then fell into the arms of a bystander. 
Blood was already flowing from his mouth and nostrils; he 
never spoke more, and in five minutes was a corpse," 

Thus Death, coming in unsuspected guise, cut down, in the 
flower of his years and usefulness, an officer of unusual promise. 
Lieutenant Solomon J. Bidwell, born in Bath, New York, in 
1829, came to Cincinnati in 1857, and in March, 1861, joined the 
Independent Guthrie Greys, leaving a good situation in the Job 
Room of the Enquirer newspaper, during the following month, 
in order to take the field with that organization. Lieutenant- 
Colonel Anderson, in a private letter, referred to his death in 
these words : " A fearful accident has just occurred. Lieutenant 
Bidwell, noted for his cool daring and prompt energy, the 
pride of his company, and a favorite with all, was shot dead by 
the accidental discharge of a gun in the hands of an Indianian. 
I heard the report, and hurried to the spot ; he was already dead, 
and the unhappy homicide was weeping beside him. Poor fel- 
low! Sadly should we have regretted his loss upon the field 
of battle ; but now regret is mingled with feelings of the keen- 
est pity. Brave, energetic, generous, and obliging, he yet died 
an inglorious death. Happy had the end come amid hail-shot 
and the exploding shells of the enemy ; thrice miserable to fall 
by the hand of a friend." The body, in charge of a statable 
escort, was promptly forwarded to Cincinnati, where a young 
widow and infant child remained to mourn his loss. 

On Sunday, October 6th, the Third and Sixth Ohio, and a 
portion of the Second Virginia (being the regiments lefl at 



140 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

Elkwater during the Greenbrier expedition) were ordered out 
upon another reconnoissance, accompanied by Captain Robin- 
son's Company A, First Ohio Cavalry, and three pieces from 
Loomis' battery, all under command of Colonel Marrow. 
Starting about three in the afternoon, over the same route as 
before, the expedition was promptly favored with the usual 
rain-storm, though it fortunately turned out to be no more 
than a hard shower, so far as that day was concerrted. It 
reached its place of bivouac, near Logan's, two-thirds of the 
distance to Marshall's Store, about eight o'clock, long before 
which hour it was quite dark, and a wagon, with four men in 
it — as also a member of Company E, Sixth Ohio, at another 
place — had fallen over a precipice twenty feet in perpendic- 
ular height. Strange to relate, neither men nor horses received 
serious injury, notwithstanding that the wagon, containing for- 
age for the teams, was completely wrecked. With Company 
K, of the Sixth, and a company of the Third Ohio thrown for- 
ward as advance guard, the column next morning moved on to 
Mingo Flats, where the infantry and artillery were necessarily 
halted on account of the almost impassable condition of the 
roads beyond. No enemy was near, the rebels having fled ten 
days before, alarmed by the approach of the last reconnoiter- 
ing party, which they mistook for the vanguard of a larger 
force attempting to surround them. A portion of the cavalry, 
with most of the mounted officers present, rode forward to Big 
Springs, four miles further, where the enemy's main camp had 
long been situated, and found abundant evidence that the rebel 
retreat was a hurried one. Many tents had been burnt or cut 
into pieces, cooking utensils were strewn over the ground, 
gashed with great holes or pounded into shapeless masses, and 
stores of all kinds had been destroyed, to the value of thou- 
sands of dollars. At one place a stack of arms had been piled 



THE CAMPAIGN DEAWS TO A CLOSE. 141 

together aud burnt, and near by a quantity of amunition had 
been thrown into the creek. Laden with prizes and relics of 
various descriptions, the horsemen returned to Mingo Flats, 
whereupon the entire command s^et out for camp, in the midst 
of a cold drizzle that steadily increased to a pouring rain, con- 
tinuing until near daylight next morning. The troops biv- 
ouacked in a narrow belt of pine woods, where the night passed 
wretchedly, in spite of a good supper and roaring fires, and on 
the following day returned to camp. 

About this time Colonel Kimball's scouts discovered that 
Jackson had fallen back from Greenbrier. The bulk of Lee's 
army, in fact, had been put e>i route for another and more 
promising field of action, and fifty miles or more of mountain 
roads now stretched between General Reynolds' division and 
the rebel rear-guard. The campaign was ended. 



142 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 



CHAPTER XI. 

THE TIME GROWS SHORT AT ELKWATER. 

(OCTOBER S-NOVEMBER 16, 1861.) 

A BOUT two hours after the return of Colonel Marrow's 
-^^ expedition, as narrated in the last chapter, a cavalcade 
was seen coming up the turnpike, foremost in which rode the 
long-looked-for paymaster. The news sjjread like wild-fire, 
and in two minutes nearly the whole regiment was out by the 
road-side, filling the air with loud huzzas. The paymaster was 
Major Hazleton, and the goodly train with him consisted of 
Colonel Bosley, who had seized this favorable opportunity to 
ride uj) from Beverly and see the regiment ; Messrs. Leonard 
Swartz and Theodore Marsh, well-known and gladly-recog- 
nized citizens of Cincinnati ; and Captain Menken's Company 
C, First Ohio Cavalry, constituting the escort of the entire 
party. 

The troops were paid partly in Treasury notes, which many 
of them now handled for the first time, and partly in gold — 
the only payment in specie which they ever received. Only a 
portion of the three-months' men in the regiment obtained 
pay for their services during that term; nor have some of them 
fared more justly to this day. Messrs. Swartz and IMarsh had 
been dispatched — the one by the Commissioners of Hamilton 
County, and the other by the City Council of Cincinnati — to 



THE TIME GROWS SHORT AT ELKWATEE. 143 

receive the funds which, under the allotment system, the Cin- 
cinnati troops serving in Western Virginia might wish to send 
home. Nearly two-thirds of the members of the Sixth availed 
themselves of this convenient method of remitting to their 
friends; and,' after a stay of just one week, the commissioners 
returned to Beverly, much gratified with the result of their 
visit to Elkwater. The two representatives of the press, C. 
D. Miller and William G. Crippen (" Invisible Green "), who, 
for a fortnight had been writing up the Cheat Mountain cam- 
2)aign for the Cincinnati Commercial and Times, started home 
about the same time. 

This seems to be an appropriate connection for adverting to 
the talent for newspaper correspondence that existed within 
the regiment itself, but which, after being conspicuously de- 
veloped at Elkwater, and again by the tedium of Camp Wick- 
liffc life, ceased to be exercised when the regiment entered 
upon the campaign before Corinth, and seemed to be forgotten 
entirely amid the weary marches and countermarches which 
filled the summer and fall of 1862. Several of the officers and 
a number of the men had been attaches of the various news- 
paper offices in Cincinnati, whence, perhaps, the origin of this 
wide-spread taste for paragraphing for the press. Thousands 
of the friends of the regiment will recollect with what interest 
they read the letters of "J. J. M." (Lieutenant Jules J. Mon- 
tagnier); "J. A. C." (Corporal J. Addison Colwell, of Com- 
pany G); and "Alf Burnett," to the Cincinnati Daily Fress ; 
of the lamented Captain Tatem, over the familiar signature of 
" Zeke," contributed first to the Enquirer, then to the Times, 
and, lastly, to the Gazette; and of Captain Wilmington, as 
" Kemo " and " Haversack," writing for the Commercial and 
Enquirer respectively. Of the excerpta firom private corre- 
epondence that were published from time to time, the letters 



144 TPIE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

of Sergeant George B. Nicholson, of Company K, were espe- 
cially admired for their graphic and truthful descriptions, sev- 
eral of them being printed almost entire by the Commercial.* 
While the regiment was at Camp Wickliife, the latter added 
to its list of correspondents, the unknown authors of several 
communications signed "Orderly" and "High Private." Ser- 
geant Herman E. W. Backus, of Company K, from Elkwater 
contributed a series of letters to the Cincinnati Volksblatt, 
which were originally written in English, and, of course, re- 
quired translation before they became available for use in that 
journal. 

Illy timing with the paymaster's welcome advent, came the 
announcement of a special order that dashed to the ground the 
high hopes the Sixth Ohio was beginning to entertain of a 
speedy transfer to Kentucky (where armies were now marshal- 
ing and the shock of arms seemed close at hand), and divided 
the Cheat Mountain division into three brigades, respectively 
commanded by General Reynolds and the two new brigadiers, 
!Milroy and Dumont. To the last named was assigned the 
Third and Sixth Ohio, the Second Virginia, and his own regi- 
ment, the Seventh Indiana. The Fifteenth and Seventeenth 
Indiana, which remained under Reynolds, soon afterward 
moved back to Huttonsville, and Dumont's brigade was left 
alone in its glory, and in what was vastly more tangible — the 
ever-deepening mud of Elkwater. 

Active campaigning being over, the routine duties of camp 
life began to receive greater attention, company and battal- 
ion drills were resumed, guard mounting was reestablished in 

* At least two or three of these were copied from the Commercial into 
Frank Moore's Itebellion Record. 



THE TIME GROWS SHORT AT ELKWATER. 145 

due form, and dress parades were daily held at retreat, with 
as much regularity as the weather would permit. The monot- 
ony which from this time forth characterized affairs at Elk- 
water, contrasted strikingly with the previous activity, and soon 
grew irksome indeed. Practically, the troops were thrown 
entirely upon their own resources for recreation during the 
long, dull weeks of October and November; for who could 
expect that the young ladies at Crouch's and Esquire Stalna- 
ker's could or would furnish entertainment for a whole brigade? 
— and no other families were accessible from camp, except to 
the lucky wight who M'as armed with a pass. Chestnutting 
and exploring expeditions ; trout fishing and bathing ; chuck- 
a-luck, seven-up, and what not modes of gambling besides ; 
checker-playing, with chess — kinglicst of games; these, and 
the like, commanded general attention, and were practiced 
daily. But pipe-making was the supreme passion. Thicker 
even than the bushwhackers they sheltered during the war are 
the laurel bushes that grow on every mountain side and by 
every running stream throughout West Virginia. These the 
men dug up by the hundred, and from the roots made hand- 
some and durable pipes, many of which were sent home, and 
are, doubtless, still preserved as valued souvenirs of the soldier- 
life of those loved ones whose handiwork they were. To 
illustrate the spirit of emulation which carried the art of pipe- 
carving to great perfection in the Sixth Ohio, it may be men- 
tioned that one of the field officers gave a private in Company 
I a sum amounting to nearly two months' pay for a pipe fin- 
ished in a style of superlative elegance. One event of per- 
petual anticipation and ever new delight, at this period, was 
the distribution of the mail, which at first was sent up daily 
by mounted carrier from Huttonsville, but, as the roads grew 
worse, came only tri- weekly, until, one night, unable to endure 
10 



146 THE 8T0EY OF A REGIMENT. 

even this service, the wretched mail-horse in despair lay down 
and diedj after which the mail-bags had to take their chances 
for reaching Elkwater along with hard-tack and sutler's stores. 
Oftentimes they were brought up by the regimental ox-team, 
which, in consequence, became the object of general affection, 
under the favorite title of " Peck's Mail Express." 

On the 13th of October, Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson re- 
ceived a note from Captain Bense, announcing the arrival of 
himself and fellow-prisoners at Richmond. " We have seen a 
little of life," it said, " since we left camp, and expect to see 
more. Give our respects to the regiment. We are all in good 
spirits." 

On the 12th of October, Captain Westcott and Sergeant J. 
F. Graham, of Company E, started for Cincinnati. Dr. Lov- 
ing resigned at the same date, and soon afterward returned to 
his home and practice in Columbus, followed by the respect 
and good wishes of the entire command. Lieutenant Biller- 
beck resigned about the same time, and left the regiment on 
the 18th. 

In the midst of the glories of Indian summer, there were 
many presages of winter; and, while the nights grew cold, 
and " the melancholy days, saddest of the year," came on 
apace, the Sixth Ohio, in common with other troops on the 
Cheat Mountain front, was sadly in need of clothing, since the 
depot quartermasters neither had supplies on hand nor seemed 
able to procure any. As early as the 1st of October, Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Anderson telegraphed Governor Dennison as fol- 
lows : 

HuTTONSviLLE, Va., October 1, 1861. 

Governor Dennison : 

The Sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteers is in a freezing condition; 
forced marches innumerable, and constant service have rendered 



THE TIME GROWS SHORT AT ELKWATER. 147 

the men ragged. The severe cold of the mountain paralyzes them. 
Can not we be relieved by our State ? Utterly without pay for 
five months' actual service, can not we at least be saved from des- 
titution? In clothing we want overcoats, trousers, and blankets. 
We have none of these, and two hundred and twelve men do duty 
in their drawers alone. Sleep is never enjoyed at night, on ac- 
count of the cold. N. L. ANDEKSON, 

Lieutenant- Colonel. 

This urgent appeal had the desired effect of enlisting the 
active exertions of the State Executive on behalf of the half- 
clad soldiery in \yestern Virginia. Governor Dennison 
promptly replied as follows : 

Columbus, October 1, 1861. 
N. L. Anderson, Lieutenant- Colonel Sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteers, Hut- 

tonsville, Va. : 

I have sent a copy of your telegram to Quartermaster-General 
Meigs, and to General Rosecrans, to whom. Captain Dickerson 
writes me, he has sent clothing and blankets for all Ohio troops 
in Virginia. Communicate with General Rosecrans. If not sup- 
plied, advise me. W. DENNISON. 

In answer to the Governor's telegram, General RosecranS' 
gave the following epitome of the state of affairs : 

Top of Big Sewall, Va., October 3, 1861.. 

Governor Dennison: 

Line just opened last evening. Captain Dickerson has given me 
some information in general terms as to clothing. Presume it is 
at Grafton or Wheeling ; have telegraphed to ascertain, and or- 
dered supplies to be sent down the line so soon as transportation, 
can be got. Provisions and ammunition have taken all we could 
spare. Roads horrid throughout all Western Virginiai Trains 
do not average more than nine or ten miles a day, or oarry over 



148 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

seven hundred and fifty pounds, besides feed for wagon. Cold, 
exposure, and hard fare use up our transportation very rapidly. 
We shall, by some means, soon supply our troops with clothing. 

W. S. ROSECRANS, 

Brigadier- General. 

Ten days having elapsed without any satisfactory assurances 
of speedy relief, Quartermaster Shoemaker was dispatched to 
Cincinnati, with instructions not to return until the needed 
supplies had been obtained. But, meantime^ the quick sym- 
pathies of the Cincinnati public had been aroused on behalf 
of the Cheat Mountain division, and the feeling having taken 
a practical shape in regard to the " Guthrie Greys," as the 
Sixth Ohio was still popularly known at home, the result is 
gratefully recorded by the regimental letter-writers in nu- 
merous paragraphs, like the following : 

"Messrs. Larz Anderson and John Stetinius arrived a week 
ago, bringing with them the contributions, public and private, 
to our regiment, which consisted of blankets, shirts, drawers, 
stockings, gloves, etc., and were much needed by all. They 
were hailed with delight. Mr. Anderson, who has ever ex- 
hibited the warmest interest in the welfare of our regiment, 
never comes without laying us under new obligations for his 
kindness; and when he left, the other evening, the boys, get- 
ting a glimpse of his unostentatious departure, cheered till he 
had disappeared in the distance. To all our friends, in fact, 
■who have contributed so much to our comfort, do we wish to 
return our sincere thanks. They have not only clothed the 
naked, but have warnjed the hearts of those who felt they were 
neglected, and given them energy to encounter new dangers 
and hardships in the cause we all feel to be sacred."* 

*J. A. C, October 28, 1861. 



THE TIME GROWS SHORT AT ELKWATER. 149 

It was a raw, gloomy day, when the Cincinnati donations 
were distributed, and the wind blew in cold, wintry gusts, 
while in the intervals between, great fugitive flakes of snow 
came sailing drearily to the earth; but the men of the Sixth 
Ohio, that day, Avere happy as kings. 

"A few days more," says another correspondent,* "brought 
us our energetic quartermaster. Lieutenant Shoemaker, with 
full supplies of clothing, which it may not be improper for the 
citizens of Cincinnati to know he was enabled to get through 
General JSIitchel, whose requisition upon Captain Dickerson 
[Depot Quartermaster at Cincinnati] was promptly and cheer- 
fully made. It is also due to Governor Dennison to say that 
he manifested the greatest anxiety to have the necessities of 
the regiment relieved, and that he forcibly and effectively rep- 
resented our wants to General Mitchel." 

There was now no better clad regiment in the department. 
A few days of beautiful autumn weather succeeded, and, in the 
midst of these fortuitous circumstances. Major Slemmer ap- 
peared at Elkwater to inspect the regiments of Dumont's 
brigade. Not only because it was the first regular and system- 
atic inspection by a specially appointed inspecting officer, as it 
was to the Sixth Ohio and most of the other regiments, but 
in the belief, as well, that a favorable report would greatly in- 
crease the chances for a transfer to Kentucky, great prepara- 
tions were made for the occasion, which finally occurred on the 
29th of October, and passed off^ with credit to the entire com- 
mand. 

For the greater part of two or three weeks, about this time, 
Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson was absent on court-martial duty 



*J. J. M., October 30, 1861. The quotation is condensed from the 
original text to a limited extent. 



150 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

at Huttonsville, and Major Christopher was thus left in com- 
mand of the regiment. On the 31st of October, Dr. Loving's 
successor as surgeon reached Elkwater, then and there begin- 
ning a long and faithful service at the front, which is inter- 
woven into the very texture of the regiment's subsequent 
history. 

Alfred Henry Stephens was born September 26th, 1818, and 
studied medicine with Dr. A. H. Baker, graduating, in the 
spring of 1846, at the Ohio Medical College, in Cincinnati. 
He was practicing in Preble County, Ohio, when the rebellion 
first " raised its hideous front," and, warmly sympathizing with 
the national cause, profiered his services to Governor Denni- 
son, by whom he was invited to present himself before the 
State Board of Medical Examiners, at Columbus, which he 
accordingly did, on the 10th of September. The character of 
the examination may be inferred from the fact that, out of one 
hundred and eighty candidates, only thirty-five were passed for 
surgeons, and about fifty-five for assistant surgeons. Being 
among the former class. Dr. Stephens was mustered as Sur- 
geon of the Forty -fifth Ohio, on the 11th of October, and im- 
mediately started for Gallipolis, whither he had been ordered 
to follow Surgeon-General (afterward Brigadier-General) Mc- 
Millan, and where he found that his services were m-gently 
needed, in consequence of a large number of sick and wounded 
soldiers having been suddenly and unexpectedly thrown into 
that post from the army in West Virginia. He remained there 
about two weeks, hard at work, and prescribing daily for two 
hundred patients, when, on the morning of October 20th, he 
received a dispatch from Assistant Adjutant-General Rodney 
Mason, announcing his transfer to the Sixth Ohio, with in- 
structions to report at Camp Elkwater without delay. 



THE TIME GROWS SHORT AT ELKWATEE. 151 

. "This little telegram," says Dr. Stephens,* whom we must 
now permit to tell his own story, " naturally gave me a de- 
sire to know something of the character of the Sixth Ohio. 
Upon inquiring of certain among my patients, who professed 
to be well informed on the subject, what was my surprise and 
sorrow to be told that it was known in the field as the ' Calico 
Regiment ; ' in short, that the officers and men were clerks of 
dry goods houses and fancy stores of Cincinnati, or fast young 
men about town, who had been induced to join the army with 
the understanding that they were all to have easy places, with 
little to do, and plenty to eat and drink ! With no very favor- 
able impression of my new regiment, I obtained transportation, 
and, without adventure, reached Grafton, where I was fortu- 
nate enough to meet Lieutenant-Colonel Beatty, of the Third 
Ohio (afterward Brigadier-General), through whose kindness 
I was given a wagon and again started on my way rejoicing, 
to be landed on the third day at ITuttonsville. Here I found 
Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson, of the Sixth — a boy in appear- 
.ance, but a man in everything that constitutes a soldier. Col- 
onel Anderson sent a note to Major Christopher, who was tem- 
porarily in charge of the regiment, asking him to ' send up 
transportation for three hundred pounds of Doctor!' The 
next day I was accordingly deposited at Elkwater, in the 
midst of the famed ' Calico Regiment,' and left to form quite 
new opinions of its qualities. 

" This camp will remain indelibly impressed on the memory 
of every man of the Sixth, for its enormity of mud and for the 
characteristics of the natives. The Stalnaker family, especi- 
ally, what member of the regiment will ever forget? 

"I found in the regimental hospital, which was tolerably 

* Private manuscript. 



152 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

well supplied with medicines and such dietetics as the Govern- 
ment furnished, fourteen sick and two wounded. The latter 
were private Helflicker, the victim of the Stewart's Run dis- 
aster, and Hannibal M. Hopkins, a member of Company H, 
who was badly crushed by the falling of a tree, on the 6th of 
October, but eventually recovered. The sanitary condition of 
the camp was as good as it well could be in that locality. On 
comparing the health of the Sixth with that of the other com- 
mands, I was surprised to find that it had less than half the 
number in hospital that the next healthiest regiment had, 
and only one-fourth as many out-patients. Dr. Ames, as- 
sistant surgeon, had been in charge since the resignation of 
Dr. Loving." 

The remarkable healthfulness of the Sixth Ohio, which uni- 
formly secured for it the favorable notice of its brigade com- 
manders and others, did not escape the attention of General 
Reynolds, who touches upon what was undoubtedly one of its 
principal causes, in these words :* *' In camp, the Sixth was 
noted for its cheerfulness, and, although not always quiet, 
could by no means be called disorderly. Its members seemed 
fully to appreciate the fact that fiddling is far better than 
physic for exorcising the blues." There were two deaths 
by disease during the regiment's five months' service in 
West Virginia, namely, private Charles Yanway, of Com- 
pany D, who died on the 22d of October, and was buried next 
day, the chaplain of the Seventh Indiana officiating at the 
funeral, and private Hermann Volkers, of Company C, who 
died on the night of the 24th. Major Christopher read the 
Episcopal burial service at the grave of the latter, with 
marked impressiveness. 

* Private manuscript. 



THE TIME GROWS SHORT AT ELK WATER. 153 

While SO nearly exempt from the inroads of disease, how- 
ever, the regiment was losing a number of its best soldiers from 
another cause, but that a most honorable one, namely, dis- 
charges for promotion. More than thirty men were taken 
from the ranks of the Sixth Ohio, during the first six months 
of its service, to officer other regiments, of which number fully 
two-thirds were from Company A. In some instances these 
appointments were to positions in the regular army. 

On the 29th of October, the Thirteenth Indiana passed 
through Elkwater, upon a scouting expedition, with five days' 
rations. It was out nine days, however, in that time march- 
ing one hundred and eighty miles and penetrating far beyond 
the Union lines, but without encountering any enemy, except a 
few straggling bands of guerrillas, and finally returned to its 
camp near Huttousville, by way of Middle Fork Bridge and 
Beverly. , 

Kindly did autumn linger among the mountains of West 
Virginia; yet the time soon came when the most hopeful heart 
at Elkwater could not but realize that winter was closing in. 
Drill grounds became spreading acres of mud, and camp, in 
spite of ditching and abundant drainage, was scarcely better, 
while the roads were bottomless. The teams grew thin and 
thinner up to the very day when they were finally exchanged 
for the hardier race of mules, many of whom died that winter, 
(in spite of the farmer's proverb that "a mule never dies,") and 
left their skeletons, half-buried in mud, to bleach along the 
road-sides. At last, on the morning of the 4th of November, 
as the troops looked toward Cheat Mountain, they saw it white 
and glistening with snow. 

On the 6th of November, Company G struck tents and went 
to Beverly, there relieving Company H, of the Fifth Ohio ; 
which regiment moved eastward, to a career of thrice-deserved 



154 THE STOKY OF A EEGIMENT. 

renown, and the Sixth saw no more of it until a few weeks 
before Hooker's immortal battle "among, the clouds," where, 
for the first time, the two commands fought within sound of 
each other's guns. 

The Third Ohio had already began building log-huts for 
winter-quarters, never ceasing, however, to hope for orders 
that should take the regiment far enough away before they 
were ready for occupancy. The men of the Sixth contented 
themselves with building sod fire-places, and in other ways 
fitting up their canvas tents as comfortably as possible. Oh, 
for the word that should liberate them from that bleak and 
isolated region, and restore them to life and action again in a 
land of civilization ! If Kentucky were only made their des- 
tination, they would be sure to go by way of Cincinnati, 
where, of course, a few hours' halt would be allowed them, and 
once more they would see their homes, with all the loved ones 
who made home dear. It was a pleasant, pleasant dream, but 
would it be realized ? 

On the 15th of November, a snow-storm came sweeping 
down upon Elkwater, and the weather then turned cold. Still 
no marching orders. 



VIRGINIA, faeewell! 155 



CHAPTER XII. 

VIRGINIA, FAREWELL! 

(NOVEMBER 17-DECEMBER 7, 1861.) 

T) Y the third week in November, the log-huts of the Third 
-*-^ Ohio were rapidly approaching completion, and other 
regiments were beginning to wish that they had exercised the 
same degree of forethought, when suddenly all was changed 
at Elkwater. Soon after dark, on Sunday night, November 
17th, prolonged and deafening cheers, with the roll of drums, 
were heard from the camp of the Third Ohio, which regi- 
ment, as was soon ascertained, had received marching orders. 
When would the same glorious tidings greet the Sixth? Tliat 
evening nothing else could be talked of; and even an hour 
after taps the animated voices of little groups might be heard 
around the smoldering fires, out in the cold, calm moonlight, 
or within the closed tents, all discussing the same absorbing 
topic. 

The Third Ohio was stirring bright and early next morn- 
ing; but it had not yet filed down the road, when another 
tremendous outburst of cheers announced that the Sixth also 
was ordered to Kentucky, and, Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson 
rejoining the regiment from Huttonsville about 10 A. M,, 
preparations for the march went on briskly. The tents were 
inspected and condemned by a board constituted for that pur- 



156 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

pose, and, when the regiment moved next day, they were left 
standing in camp. Of the sick, a portion were sent to gen- 
eral hospital at Beverly ; the rest remained at Elkwater a 
few days longer, under cliarge of Dr. Ames. It was a busy, 
happy day for the Sixth Ohio. How the men reveled in their 
anticipations of the future ; of that so near at hand, especially 
— only a few days more at farthest — when they would proudly 
march through Cincinnati, and be reunited, for a brief season, 
with the dear ones, from whom they had been separated so many 
months. Oh, how long, in retrospect, those weary months did 
seem ! A frosty, moonlight evening succeeded, and with what 
zest tlie men hailed the approach of their last night at Elkwa- 
ter ! Camp was hilarious — with such a scene as the old maples, 
rising gaunt and bare overhead, had never before witnessed. 
The band of the Seventh Indiana, which came over to sere- 
nade the officers, played " Home, Sweet Home ! " — not once 
merely, nor twice, but over and over again ; and surely never 
did that sweetest of all airs seem so touchingly beautiful as 
then. 

Tuesday morning, November 19th, was cold, but clear, and 
the ground frozen hard. Though reveille beat early, the reg- 
iment did not get fairly under way until near ten o'clock, the 
men carrying heavy knapsacks, plethoric now with winter 
clothing and many little extras from home. Under a bright 
sun, the ground thawed rapidly, and the road grew very 
heavy, so that it was noon before the column reached Hut- 
tonsville. As it passed the camp of the Thirteenth Indiana, 
after a short halt for dinner, the men of that regiment crowded 
out to the guard-line and cheered it heartily. Gallant, ragged 
veterans of the Thirteenth, whose destiny led them to fields 
far eastward, where they achieved a proud fame throughout 
the Army of the Potomac — the Sixth Ohio never saw them 



VIRGINIA, fareavell! 157 

afterward. On such a march straggling was inevitable. From 
dark until near midnight, squads of weary soldiery were plod- 
ding into Beverly, while numbers lay down at the bridge, 
three miles out, and elsewhere along the road, and slept until 
morning. 

Comfortably quartered in empty houses, the regiment rested at 
Beverly during the whole of Wednesday, and, additional wagons 
having been obtained, the men's knapsacks were sent forward 
to Clarksburg, under the escort of Company G, which, from 
its having come to Beverly some time before, had escajjed the 
laborious march from Elkwater. 

Reaching Beverly on Monday evening, the Third Ohio, on 
the following morning, had pushed on toward Buckhannon, 
in light marching order, by which means it was now two 
days in advance of the Sixth. The Twenty-fourth Ohio 
started from Cheat Mountain Summit on the same day that 
the Third left Elkwater, but did not pass Beverly until the 
second evening. Other regiments were soon afterward moved 
to the rear, most of them to reenforce General Buell in Ken- 
tucky ; and the Cheat Mountain district, although held by 
Milroy's brigade until early in the following spring, never 
became the theater of important military operations again. 

General Dumont subsequently served in Kentucky and Ten- 
nessee, and finally resigned to take a seat in the Thirty-eighth 
Congress, to which he was elected from the Sixth District of 
Indiana, in October, 1862. 

Resigning in January, 1862, General Reynolds returned to 
Indi-.nia, where he spent several months in assisting to raise 
and organize new regiments for the field, and, by request of 
Governor Morton and Major-General H. G. Wright, wa-s pres- 
ent, in an advisory capacity, at both Louisville and Cincinnati, 



158 THE STOHY OF A REGIMENT. 

when those cities were tlireatened by the rebels, in September, 

1862. On the 29th of November, 1862, after having declined 
a re- appointment as Brigadier- General, he was commissioned 
Major-General of Volunteers, and, reporting promjjtly to Gen- 
eral Rosecrans, was at once assigned to the command of the 
Twelfth Division of the Army of the Cumberland — then in 
the " Centre," under General Thomas. During the Stone Kiver 
campaign, his division, although not ordered up with the 
main army, did good service by executing a cooperative move- 
ment from Gallatin into Kentucky for the protection of the 
Louisville and Nashville Railroad. From January to Octo- 
ber, 1863, he commanded the Fourth Division, of the Four- 
teenth Army Corps, by which the aifair at Hoover's Gap, in 
the advance upon Tullahoma, was mainly fought. Of General 
Reynolds' services at Chickamauga, which were most conspic- 
uous and intrepid, we shall have occasion to speak in the 
regular course of our narrative. 

At the reorganization of the Army of the Cumberland, upon 
the accession of General Thomas to its command, in October, 

1863, General Reynolds was appointed Chief of StaiF; in which 
capacity, he took part in the battle of Missionary Ridge and 
other engagements before Chattanooga, on the 23d, 24th, and 
25th of November following. In December, he was ordered 
to the Department of the Gulf, and remained in command of 
the defenses of New Orleans daring the first five and a half 
months of 1864. From the 16th of June to August, 1864, 
he commanded the " U. S. Forces in the Field," in the De- 
partment of the Gulf,, being principally engaged in organiz- 
ing troops to operate against Mobile, and, during this period, 
was assigned (in July) to the command of the Nineteenth 
Corps, two divisions of which (originally intended for Mobile) 
were soon afterward embarked for the Army of the Potomac. 



VIRGINIA, FAREWELL ! 159 

From the remainder of the Nineteenth Corps, and the former 
Thirteenth Corps, General Reynolds then organized about fifteen 
hundred men, and transferred them to Major-General Gordon 
Granger, to cooperate in the capture of Forts Gaines and Mor- 
gan, in Mobile Bay. The last three months of 1864 found 
him in command of the troops stationed along the Mississippi, 
from Memphis to the Gulf, whose duty it was to prevent the 
rebel forces west of the river from crossing to the assistance 
of their sore-pressed comrades further east. By assignment of 
the President, he commanded, during a portion of this time, 
the Military Division of West Mississippi, Major-General Can- 
by having been temporarily disabled by a wound. He was 
next assigned to the Department of Arkansas, and the Sev- 
enth Army Corps; and this command (except in so far as it 
was modified by the disbandment of the Seventh Corps at the 
close of the war) he held until the summer of 1866. Gen- 
eral Reynolds' later service has been in the South-west, prin- 
cipally in the States of Louisiana and Texas. 

At Beverly, Colonel Bosley re-assumed command of the 
Sixth Ohio, and Captain Tatem and Adjutant Heron rejoined 
it also, from absence in Cincinnati, upon sick leave. The du- 
ties of the latter officer had been very ably discharged, during 
the interim, by Lieutenant Donovan. 

By sunrise of Thursday, November 21st, the regiment was 
again in motion, the men being in buoyant spirits, and about 
ten o'clock reached Hart's farm, on the summit of Rich Mount- 
ain, where it halted for a few minutes upon the battle-ground. 
Some of the rude breastworks thrown up by the rebels still re- 
mained, and the scars of cannon-shot, with the marks of axes 
used by relic-hunters to cut out bullets from the trees, were 
visible on all sides. The column rested for dinner at Roaring 



160 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

Bun, the sun shining warm and pleasant, and, after three 
hours more of leisurely marching, went into bivouac in the 
woods, about half way to Buckhannon, where, as the night 
w^as cold, and the men had no axes for chopping fire-wood, 
the best sleep that any obtained was a succession of shivering 
naps. 

When reveille blew, at 3 A. M., of what was now Novem- 
ber 22d, the moon was shining brightly, and over a hard- 
frozen road the troops set out rapidly, passing Middle Fork 
Bridge, where the patriot Johns was killed on the 6th of July, 
in the gray of twilight, and, after toiling up the long, steep 
hill beyond, they were just beginning to descend the western 
slope when the rising sun flashed upon the scene, in gorgeous 
and unclouded splendor. They reached Buckhannon about 
noon, after a march of nearly sixteen miles. Quartered in 
the public buildings of the town, a Methodist Church among 
the number, they rejoiced to find themselves again in a com- 
munity where intelligence and loyalty predominated, and were 
soon quite at home. In the evening, two days' rations were 
issued, consisting, in part, of a small allowance of fresh bread — 
a luxury indeed to men who had lived u2)on hard-tack and 
slap-jacks for four months and a half; and during the night 
a blustering nor'-wester began to blow, driving before it a 
cold, white sleet. 

Of the two or three turnpike routes from Buckhannon to 
Clarksburg, that by way of Weston, thirty-eight miles in all, 
is the least direct; and, for that very reason having been 
less worn by Government trains, it was at this time decidedly 
the preferable one. Both the Third and Twenty-fourth Ohio 
went directly through Weston ; but the Sixth, on the 23d, 
merely sent its trains thither, while the main body struck 
across the country to Jane Lew, which is the singular name 



VIRGINIA, farewell! 161 

of a hamlet situated on the turnpike between Clarksburg and 
Weston, and distant from the latter place about seven miles. 
Tke Twenty-fourth, for the last thirty-six hours, had been 
leading the Sixth by but half a day's journey, and as the lat- 
ter saved at least six miles by this piece of strategy, it was 
only by terrible marching that Colonel Ammen succeeded in 
keeping the advance, which told the more severely on his 
men, as they all carried knapsacks, and bivouacked regularly 
in the open air. At Jane Lew, the left wing of the Sixth 
quartered in Mitchell's mill, and the right wing in various 
houses near by ; the day's march had been a light and com- 
fortable one of sixteen miles. 

The following day, November 24th, was Sunday. The 
weather had grown cold since the storm of Friday night, and 
when the column formed at day-break, the ground was cov- 
ered with a light snow, and great feathery flakes were falling 
still. Sixteen miles more to Clarksburg ! Thanks to a road 
in good condition, the season of the year and the weather 
being taken into consideration, the regiment completed the 
distance a few minutes after twelve o'clock, and, after stand- 
ing for some time in a dense snow-storm, was dismissed to- 
the quarters provided in the court-house and other public 
buildings; at the former of which the knapsacks were found- 
piled up in the rotunda, quite safe under the guardianship of" 
Company G. 

The Third Ohio reached Clarksburg the day previous, and, 
after having been paid off by Major Hazleton, who sat up alb 
night to finish the task, about two hours before the arrival of 
the Sixth it had started, by rail, for Parkersburg, there to take 
boat for Louisville. As for the Twenty-fourth Ohio, which, 
at dark on Saturday evening, went into bivouac by the road- 
side, about six miles from Jane Lew, it had been roused at. 
11 



162 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

1 A. M., and by daylight was in Clarl^burg, where it marched 
through the town to a bleak hill-side, and was immediately 
surrounded by a strong regimental guard. It passed the night 
in neighboring houses and a train of freight cars standing on 
the railroad track close by, and on Monday embarked for Par- 
kersburg. 

During the day last named, the Sixth Ohio was paid off, 
for the two months ending October 31st, and on Tuesday it 
took the cars also. By eleven o'clock that night, the last com- 
pany of the left wing was safely aboard the Capitola, a small 
"up-river" and Kanawha packet, lying at the Parkersburg 
wharf; the right wing, having started from Clarksburg some- 
what earlier than the left, had been swarming the decks of the 
Goody Friends, a rather larger boat, for two hours past. Two 
or three hours were consumed in loading the regimental bag- 
gage and taking on a supply of quartermaster's and commis- 
sary stores; so that it was some time after midnight before the 
boats got under way, the Capitola leading, with Lieutenant- 
Colonel Anderson aboard, in charge of the left wing. Colonel 
Bosley was with the right wing, on the Goody Friends. Major 
Christopher had obtained a short leave of absence, and started 
homeward by rail. At daylight of Wednesday, which opened 
with a drizzling rain, and a dreary prospect of bare, brown 
hill-sides rising upon either shore, the boats stopped at Mason 
City for coal. Between nine and ten o'clock, the Goody Friends 
came up along-side the Capitola, and the two boats were lashed 
together, after which, three days' rations were distributed, and 
also a full supply of shoes and socks. Approaching Gallipolis, 
the boats again parted company, the Goody Friends making a 
landing there, to enable Colonel Bosley to telegraph General 
Buell, with a request that the regiment might stop a short 
time at Cincinnati. 



VIRGINIA, farewell! 163 

As both the Third and Twenty-fourth Ohio had had several 
hours in the Queen City, although neither of them was raised 
in that section of the State, it was thought to be impossible 
that the members of the Sixth — Cincinnati's own regiment — 
would be denied the same privilege. There was already a vast 
army in Kentucky, no immediate danger threatened in that 
quarter, a few hundred men could not be missed for a day or 
two, or even more ; surely the regiment would stop, must stop, 
at Cincinnati. Thus the men encouraged each other in their 
fond hopes, and, in spite of the weather, in spite of their mani- 
fold discomforts, crowded together and cramped for room as 
they were, with very inadequate accommodations for cooking, 
they overflowed with good humor, and were as full of plans and 
pranks as school-boys going home at holiday. 

Home and friends ! — for a little respite, at least, to be seen, 
possessed, enjoyed once more! How the hours lengthened that 
still kept asunder the long-separated, the dearer-loved than 
ever! Yes, and they at home were waiting too! A thousand 
letters had sent to Ohio the glad news of marching orders be- 
fore ever the Sixth left Elkwater ; a score of telegraphic mes- 
sages had sped the tidings of its progress since; and every body 
in Cincinnati knew by this time that the regiment was com- 
ing. For the brothers, sons, friends, and lovers that would 
march in its ranks through the streets to-morrow, what tur- 
keys were shedding their heart's best blood, what dinners were 
cooking, what festivities were preparing! There were nimble 
fingers, too, putting the last finishing touches upon numberless 
little presents; there were prayers ascending, hearts throbbing 
with fond anticipation, and eyes dimmed with tears of thank- 
fulness and joy. How sluggishly the boats were floating down 
stream, when they should have plowed through the current 
with every ounce of steam on that the boilers would bear ! 



164 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

But the boats did move. About 2 P. M., the village of 
Guyandotte appeared in sight ; it had lately been the scene of 
some guerrilla savagery, which a mass of blackened ruins told 
had already been settled for. Somewhat later the boats passed 
the mouth of the Big Sandy River, the boundary between Vir- 
ginia and Kentucky. 

"And now Virginia's mountain tops 
Faint as the far-oif clouds of evening lie, 
And now they fade away." 

Old Dominion, Mother of Presidents, sacred soil of Southern 
chivalry, farewell, farewell ! Kentucky spread away upon the 
left, the much-talked-of, the long-wished-for Kentucky ! Late 
in the day the sky cleared, and, like a conqueror crowned and 
canopied with glory, the sun sank to rest behind the Kentucky 
hills. His last rays lingered on the furnace chimneys of Iron- 
ton ; but these, too, were soon lost in twilight and the distance, 
and long before the boats passed Portsmouth, it was dark 
night. 

The day following was Thanksgiving-day — Thursday, No- 
vember 28th. " Dawn found us," says the diary we have be- 
fore quoted from, "at anchor, in the middle of the river, just 
opposite Glenn's saw-mill, in Fulton. Some of the men were 
in plain sight of their homes ; a few had even exchanged greet- 
ings across the water with friends on shore. I saw a skiff put 
out from the bank, and a little fellow, hardly ten years old, 
come pulling toward us for dear life. 

" ' Ike ! mother says for you to come back with me, and get 
some breakfast ! It 's all waitin' now ; come ! ' 

"'Can't do it, Johnny,' sang out a Company H boy at my 
side — 'can't do it! they won't let us off right here. Tell 
mother to wait till supper time ! ' 



VIRGINIA, farewell! 165 

"The boy made no reply, but paddled slowly, and I thought 
sadly, back to shore. 

" Cinchinati was right below us. We still had no orders from 
our officers, yet nearly all were sanguine of our being permitted 
to land, as the Third and Twenty-fourth had been, and having 
at least half a day with our friends. Even the few who, up to 
last night, had tried to reason their comrades out of the hope, 
were now as eager as any in their preparations for a parade 
through the streets of Cincinnati. Blankets were rolled up 
and strapped on the knapsacks, accouterments were rubbed 
clean, uniforms brushed, shoes polished, paper collars and new 
neck-ties produced and put on ; and, as the boats started again, 
under full steam, some even shouldered their knapsacks, and, 
with gun in hand, stood on the deck, ready to leap ashore the 
moment the boat should touch the wharf. We could hear the 
bells ringing to announce our approach, and a crowd, that grew 
deeper and denser every minute, was already assembled at the 
landing to give us welcome Oh, bitter, bitter disap- 
pointment ! Five minutes the boats stopped on the Covington 
side; then they swung round again, stood out into the middle 
of the stream, and, in full view of the hundreds on shore, 
steamed madly down toward Louisville. Threats and curses 
there were many, it is true; but, for the most part, they were 

' Curses not loud, but deep.' 

I heard of instances where full-grown men — married men and 
fathers — wept aloud. I saw no such exhibitions, but I (Jid see 
desperation written on the faces of scores and scores; and those, 
too, of the very best men in the regiment. Not a cheer from 
the Guthricsall that long, long day; gloom and sullen de- 
jection brooded on almost every countenance." 
In sympathy with the hour, as it almost seemed, a cold, driz- 



166 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

zling rain set in, about 10 A. M,, and, continuing nearly all 
day, was succeeded by a dense fog, whicli compelled the boats 
to lay up for a considerable time during the night. Next 
morning the Sixth disembarked at Louisville, and marched, 
first to the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Depot, where a 
substantial meal was provided by the Subsistence Committee 
(an organization of loyal citizens of Louisville), and afterward 
to Camp Jenkins, an extensive camp of rendezvous, nearly five 
miles out on the plank road, where the regiment filed into an 
old corn-field that was shoe-top deep in mud, and was ordered 
to stack arms, unsling knapsacks, and await the arrival of 
tents and equipage from Louisville. The raw, drizzling rain, 
already falling, soon turned into a cold, biting sleet. Singly, 
in pairs and by squads, the men began leaving the dreary 
scene, in search of shelter and more comfortable quarters for 
the night, and the consequence was that when, at dusk, the 
tents actually did arrive, scarcely a corporal's guard remained 
to put them up. Some of the men were sharing the hospital- 
ities of acquaintances in other regiments, but the large major- 
ity were in Louisville, or miles on their way toward home. 

In Cincinnati, the friends of the regiment had felt the dis- 
appointment of the day before almost as keenly as had the 
men themselves. Says an editorial paragraph in the Commer- 
cial, of November 29th: "It was sad to see them returning 
from the landing, disappointed in their confident expectations 
of meeting the gallant fellows who have been so long absent. 
Many ladies wept bitterly, to be obliged to return home with 
the little packages of comforts prepared for the boys, and some 
of the scenes were most touching." The Ninth and Tenth Ohio, 
from the Kanawha region, were close behind the Sixth in its 
passage down the river, and they were permitted not only to 
land, but to spend two or three days in Cincinnati. Hardly 



VIRGINIA, farewell! 167 

had the Goody Friends and Capitola passed out of sight, 
below Cincinnati, when the friends of the Sixth began rendez- 
vousing on the Superior, tlie noon mail-boat, determined to 
see their soldier boys before the regiment should leave Louis- 
ville. Those who were unable to pay fare the mail company 
transported free, so that the boat was crowded. It passed the 
regiment during the night ; and when the troops filed ashore in 
the morning, not a few were at once taken possession of and 
spirited away — some with permission from their officers, and 
some without — to hotels and elsewhere, to enjoy a happy reun- 
ion with loving ones from home, and spend a few hours in their 
dear society. As there was, in addition to these, the inevitable 
proportion of stragglers from the ranks, which a body of troops 
in transitu is sure to leave behind in passing through a large 
city, not much more than half of the regiment went out to 
Camp Jenkins on Friday, November 30th. 

For nearly a week the Sixth Ohio remained in the demoral- 
ized condition consequent upon the events we have described, 
which was undoubtedly made worse by the fact that the men 
were all in funds. The " stampede at Louisville " — to use the 
term by which it was long known in the regiment — was a time 
that exceedingly few survivors of the Sixth Ohio will ever forget. 
First and last, nearly one-half of the regiment must have been 
smuggled home, in various disguises, with the active conniv- 
ance, in most cases, of sympathizing steamboatmen and railroad 
conductors; and friends, meanwhile, were continually coming 
and going at camp. In Louisville, the "P. P's." — the "Pro- 
visional Patrols," a body of home-guards whom Western Vir- 
ginia campaigners were in duty bound to hold in profound con- 
' tempt — in Louisville, those maintainers of "good order and 
military discipline," had a lively time indeed. The city abound- 



168 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

ing with stragglers from the two-score regiments or more en- 
camped in its environs, the patrols seldom encountered such 
obstreperous customers as certain squads of the Sixth Ohio 
could furnish at that period. But while the regiment, as a body, 
felt that they had been unjustly treated, the patriotism of its 
individual members never wavered. In a few days the Sixth 
Ohio re-assembled — every man of it save six. In view of all 
the circumstances of the case, together with the previous good 
character of the command, the escapade was overlooked ; and al- 
though a cloud now overshadowed the regiment, it very soon 
lifted, as we shall see. 



NEW ASSOCIATIONS. 169 



CHAPTEE XIII. 

NEW ASSOCIATIONS. 

(DECEMBER 6-18, 1861.) 

CA:MP JENKINS— or, as it was officially designated, 
Camp Buell — was low and flat, and but poorly supplied 
with water, being merely a temjiorary place of rendezvous, un- 
der the command of General O. INI. Mitchel, for such of Gen- 
eral Buell's heavy reenforcements as could not be quartered in 
other camps in the environs of Louisville. Of the regiments 
here assembled, a considerable portion were new, en route to 
the front for the first time ; and among this number were two, 
soon to be associated with the Sixth, namely, Colonel W. B. 
Hazen's Forty-first Ohio, from the AVestern Reserve, and 
the Fifty-first Ohio, recruited mainly in Tuscarawas and Co- 
shocton Counties, but commanded by Colonel Stanley INI. 
Matthews, of Cincinnati, the same gentleman who had re- 
ceived a large number of votes, at Camp Dennison, for the 
colonelcy of the Sixth. A few of the remaining commands 
had had a spice of active campaigning, under the iron-willed 
Nelson, in Eastern Kentucky, and in this list were the Second 
and Thirty-third Ohio Infantry, the former of which, reorgan- 
ized for the three-years' service, under Colonel L. A. Harris, of 
Cincinnati, contained many personal friends of members of the 
Sixth. The regiments from Western Virginia were the veterans, 



170 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

fa^' excellence, of all the troops in camp. There were several 
of them, besides the Sixth Ohio, in the immediate vicinity of 
Louisville. The Ninth Ohio was directly across the river, at 
Camp Joe Holt, near Jeffersonville, Indiana ; the Tenth Ohio 
was quartered in some neighboring camp ; the Seventeenth In- 
diana had gone out to the Oakland Race Course; and the Third 
and Twenty-fourth Ohio, as also the Fifteenth Indiana, were 
with the Sixth Ohio at Camp Buell. 

The Third and Sixth Ohio, fast friends still, were encamped 
upon contiguous grounds, and in both regiments the desire to 
have them brigaded together was almost universal. This feel- 
ing, however, was not to be gratified. The Third, being as- 
signed to General Mitchel's division, in a few days went for- 
ward, by rail, to Bacon Creek, near Green River, and its 
eventful history subsequent to this period has comparatively 
little in common with that of the Sixth Ohio. The latter, on 
the 6th of December, found itself incorporated with the "Fif- 
teenth Brigade, Army of the Ohio," commanded by Colonel 
Milo S. Hascall, of the Seventeenth Indiana, and comprising, 
in addition to that officer's own regiment and the Sixth Ohio, 
the Fifteenth Indiana and Forty-first Ohio. Lieutenant Ed- 
ward R. Kerstetter, Adjutant of the Seventeenth Indiana, was 
announced as acting assistant adjutant-general on Colonel Has- 
call's staff, to which an aid-de-camp was added a few days 
later, in the person of Lieutenant Montagnier, of Company G, 
Sixth Ohio, a versatile and accomplished officer. 

Milo S. Hascall was born in Genesee County, New York, 
in August, 1829, and in the spring of 1848, entered the mili- 
itary academy at West Point, as a cadet from one of the con- 
gressional districts in Indiana, to which State he had removed 
during the preceding September. He graduated in 1852, 



NEW ASSOCIATIONS. 171 

fourteenth in a class of ninety-six. Among liIs class-mates 
were Generals Sheridan, David S. Stanley, A. McDowell Mc- 
Cook, Crook, Charles E. Woods, Hartsuff and Slocura.* 
Young Hascall remained in the army as second lieutenant, 
until September, 1854, when he resigned, and, returning to his 
adopted State, began the study of the law, in the practice of 
which profession he was engaged when the rebellion broke out. 
Throwing his entire energies into the struggle for the nation's 
preservation, he was speedily promoted from a captaincy in 
the Seventeenth Indiana to the command of that body, which 
he led into Western Virginia, in July, 1861. The services of 
his regiment in that quarter have been outlined in previous 
chapters. 

Before spring opened, the Sixth Ohio, as we shall see, was 
transferred to another brigade, soon after which Colonel Has- 
call was appointed brigadier-general, and in due time was con- 
firmed as such, to rank from March 25th, 1862. At Stone 
Eiver, his division commander, General Thomas J. Wood, hav- 
ing been wounded. General Hascall had command of the ex- 
treme left, consisting of four brigades, during the last three 
days of the battle ; and it was with true soldierly pride that 
he called attention, in his official report, to the fact that his 
division " held its original position, and every other position as- 
signed to it, during the whole four days." Soon after this 
engagement, he was ordered to Indianapolis, to assume com- 
mand of the Disti'ict of Indiana ; but, after remaining there 
less than five months, he again went into the field, in com- 
mand of a division of the Twenty-third Army Corps. He 
took a prominent part in General Burnside's movement into East 

* Ohio was represented in this class by five members. They were the 
five first-named in the list above given — a brilliant galaxy indeed. 



172 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMEXT. 

Tennessee, and later operations in that region, including the 
siege of Knoxville. During the Atlanta campaign, his di- 
vision, then serving under General Schofield, shared with the 
remainder of Sherman's army in nearly five months of march- 
ing and fighting, almost without intermission. In October, 
1864 (several weeks subsequent to the fall of Atlanta), Gen- 
eral Hascall resigned, after a continuous service of three years 
and six months, and somewhat later engaged in the banlcing 
business at Goshen, Elkhart County, Indiana, which is his 
home at the date of this writing. 

We now return to aiFairs at Camp Buell. To its dismay, 
the Fifteenth Brigade was assigned to the Fourth Division, 
Army of the Ohio, commanded by Brigadier-General William 
Nelson, whom, as yet, the troops knew only from his fearful 
portraiture — a monstrous sort of anamorphosis — by the men 
composing his late command in Eastern Kentucky. General 
Nelson's staff was announced as follows : " J. Mills Kendrick, 
Thirty-third Ohio Volunteers, acting assistant adjutant-gen- 
eral ; E. E. Colburn, Thirty -third Ohio Volunteers, acting 
division quartermaster ; John M. Duke, Jr., Colonel Marshall's 
regiment Kentucky Volunteers, aid-de-camp." Shortly af- 
terward, Lieutenant Richard Southgate, of Company I, Sixth 
Ohio, was detailed as an additional aid-de-camp. 

Lack of transportation detained the Fifteenth Brigade at 
Camp Buell two or three days longer than was originally in- 
tended, none of the Western Virginia regiments in it having 
brought their wagons or teams further than Philippi or 
Clarksburg. On the evening of December 9th, marching or- 
ders were at length received, and were followed, some hours 
after dark, by the appearance of the much desired transporta- 
tion, consisting of twelve six-mule teams for each regiment — 



NEW ASSOCIATIONS. 173 

one wagon for each company and two wagons for the regi- 
mental and head-quarters baggage. Dr. Stephens had previ- 
ously drawn a sufficient supply of hospital tents and stores for 
the wants of the regiment, which were characteristically lim- 
ited, and the few sick he had sent to general hospital at Louis- 
ville. 

On Tuesday morning, December 10th, the Fifteenth Bri- 
gade set out on the march to Camp Wicklifife, which was to be 
the winter's home of the Fourth Division. It was accom- 
panied by the Fifty-first Ohio, the whole force of five regi- 
ments being under the personal conduct of General Nelson. 
The men carried provisions for one day, while four days' ra- 
tions more were packed in the wagons. Passing through 
Louisville, where its appearance was remarked as very sol- 
dierly, the column struck out upon the Bardstown turnpike at 
a swinging gait, the Forty-first Ohio in the advance, and the 
Sixth Ohio coming next. The weather was warm for the sea- 
son, and, in spite of orders and a strong rear-guard, there was 
considerable straggling before nightfall. 

After the first day, the march was characterized by admira- 
ble system and good order, almost every detail receiving Gen- 
eral Nelson's personal attention, in greater or less degree. 
The starting of the troops and trains in the morning, the tim- 
ing of the halts, the order and general style of the march, the 
preservation of distances, the enforcement of regulations against 
straggling, the selection of .camping grounds, the posting of 
interior guards as well as of the pickets, and other matters 
of miuutiie not a few, the indefatigable commander insisted 
upon having executed precisely in accordance with orders, 
and, as far as possible, under his own eye. The troops instinct- 
ively felt that they had a leader, and, although they still feared 
him to be a harsh, unbending disciplinarian, he had already 



174 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

secured their confidence and was rapidly gaining their esteem. 
Upon this march the Sixth Ohio began to attract General Nel- 
son's notice, by its excellent marching qualities; for, "while 
some regiments," as a medical officer writes, " were transport- 
ing several ambulance loads of flagging soldiers, almost every 
man of the Sixth kept squarely 'on his pins.' " 

It was late in the afternoon, on the date last given, when 
the Fifteenth Brigade reached its camping place, about sixteen 
miles from Camp Buell, and ten miles from Louisville. The 
wagon train of the Sixth Ohio, with the tents and regimental 
baggage, did not come up until long after dark; meantime, the 
men had grown weary of waiting for it, and as the evening was 
warm and the sky quite clear, they wrapped their blankets about 
them and lay down to sleep in the open air. About midnight 
they were awakened by a hard shower of rain, to which sue-' 
ceeded a cold, north-west wind. They shivered out the re- 
mainder of the night, and, gladly making a start at daylight, 
on the next day marched about fourteen miles, passing through 
Mt. Washington, in Bullitt County, a small place of decided 
secession sympathies, and halted for the night just within the 
limits of Nelson County, about half a mile south of the East 
Fork of Salt River. The night was cold, with severe frost. 

On the 12th, the brigade passed through Bardstown, and, 
after a tiresome march of sixteen miles, went into bivouac on 
Beech Fork shortly before sundown. 

On the 13th, an easy stage of twelve miles brought it to within 
half a mile of New Haven, where it encamped, early in the af- 
ternoon, on a thinly-wooded knoll on the right of the turnpike. 
New Haven is a sprightly little town on the Lebanon branch of 
the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, in Nelson County, but 
nearly on the boundary line of the county of La Rue. The turn- 
pike which approaches it from Bardstown, by a south-westerly 



NEW ASSOCIATIONS. 175 

course, leads out from it, in a more southerly direction, toward 
Munfordville, in Hart County, where it unites with the main 
turnpike — the old stage route — from Louisville to Nashville. 
Immediately beyond the town, as the traveler jourjieys south- 
ward, he begins the toilsome ascent of an elevated ridge, which, 
in fact, is a continuation of the range known as Muldraugh's 
Hills, and forms one of those extensive barrens that character- 
ize this portion of Kentucky. These barrens are mostly over- 
grown with dwarfish forests of black-jack, post-oak, etc., and 
from their infertility remain but sparsely settled. 

On the south-western slope of the ridge above mentioned, 
■where the head- waters of Nolin Creek take their rise, the coun- 
try, although less populous and wealthy than in the vicinity of 
Bardstown, again assumes an aspect of thrift and cultivation. 
It was here, at a point on the turnpike about twelve miles from 
New Haven, that General Nelson had selected a camping ground 
for his division until it should be ordered forward, in a general 
advance of the Army of the Ohio; and here arriving at one o'clock, 
on the afternoon of Saturday, December 14th, the Fifteenth Bri- 
gade was at the end of its journey. Next day, another brigade — 
the Tenth, under command of Colonel Ammen — came up, and 
went into camp on the opposite side of the turnpike. It consisted 
of the Twenty-fourth and Fifty-first Ohio and the Thirty-fourth 
and Thirty-sixth Indiana, of which the two regiments last named 
had been acting for some time past as a corps of observation in 
the region about New Haven, and were entire strangers to the 
rest of the division. A third brigade had been promised General 
Nelson, but it did not join the others until about three weeks 
later. 

The new camp received its name in honor of Ex-Governor C. 
A. Wickliffe, a gentleman of advanced years, who was, at this 
period, a member of the lower house of the National Congress, 



176 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

but whose subsequent course indicated a sad declension from the 
outspoken loyalty which he originally professed. The location 
of the camp was excellent, the grounds being high and rolling, 
abundantly supplied with wood and water, and adjacent to large 
and pleasant drill grounds. AVith reference to the country in 
front, toward the enemy, it was, for all purposes of observation, 
a commanding position ; while its communications with the sup- 
ply depot at New Haven were short, safe, and easy ; at the same 
time, it was within ready supporting distance of the forces which 
General Buell had assembled along the line of the Louisville 
and Nashville Railroad, at various convenient j)oints near Green 
River. Those forces, which consisted of the two strong divisions 
of McCook and Mitchel, numerically designated the Second and 
Third, were on the right of Camp Wickliffe, and thirty-six hours' 
march nearer the enemy, who was lying between Green River and 
Bowling Green. The rebel commander (Albert Sidney John- 
ston) had fortified the latter position with great labor, design- 
ing to hold it, as being the key-point of Central Kentucky and 
the main outwork for defending the rich and fertile regions of 
^Middle Tennessee. The First Division, under General Thomas, 
was a considerable distance to the left of the Fourth, with head- 
quarters and its base of supplies at Lebanon, which is the ter- 
minus of the branch railroad that passes through New Haven. 
It formed the left of Buell's cooperative columns in Central 
Kentucky. For the present, its duty was simply that of occu- 
pation, keeping a close watch, meanwhile, upon the movements 
of the rebel General Zollicoffer, who had recently crossed the 
Cumberland River from Mill Spring, in Wayne County, and 
begun intrenching himself on the northern bank of that stream, 
the better to maintain which surveillance, Schoepf 's brigade had 
been thrown forward to Somerset, in Pulaski County. 
The Fourth Division, remaining for several weeks longer with- 



NEW ASSOCIATIONS. 177 

out artillery or any considerable body of cavalry, was scarcely 
prepared for an aggressive campaign. But, while watching 
the front toward Green River and guarding the left flank of 
the forces about Munfordville, it was being molded by dis- 
cipline and laborious drill into that body of veterans whose 
renown not merely became the pride of the lion-hearted com- 
mander who made the Fourth Division what it was, but shed 
a luster on the history of the whole army.* 

The 15th of December was a bright, spring-like Sabbath day, 
and very pleasant was the rest which came with it for the tired 
and foot-sore men of the Fifteenth Brigade. General Nelson, 
however, impatient to begin the task of drilling, had already 
issued a general order, instituting the following calls for duty, 
throughout the division : 

Reveille, at 6 A. M. 

Between reveille and breakfast, quarters to be policed and arms 
cleaned. 

Breakfast, 7 A. M. 

Fatigue and sick call, 7 : 30 A. M. 

Officers' drill [under direction of brigade commanders], 8 to 
9 A. M. 

Squad drill for privates [under non-commissioned officers], at 
same hour. 

Guard mounting, 8 A. M. 

Drill call [battalion drill with knapsacks], 9 : 30 A. M. 

Recall from drill, 11 : 30 A. M. 

Orderly call and recall from fatigue, 11:40 A. M, 

*One interesting circumstance which we must not forget to mention 
in connection with Camp WicklifiFe is, that about five miles west of it, 
and a short distance within the limits of La Rue County, the log-cabin 
was pointed out in which Abraham Lincoln was born. We believe it ia 
still standiDg. 

12 



178 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

Dinner call, 12 M. 

Fatigue call, 12 : 30 P. M. 

Drill call [brigade or division drill], 1 P. M. 

Recall from drill, 4 P. M. 

Retreat and dress parade, sunset. 

Supper, 5 : 30 P. M. 

Tattoo, 8 P. M. 

Taps, 8 : 10 P. M. 

Such was the life upon which the Fourth Division entered 
on the 16th of December, 1861. It was busy, exacting, la- 
borious, but it made soldiers out of untrained volunteers with 
wonderful precision and rapidity. 

Upon the 18th of December, the troops at Camp Wickliffe 
received intelligence of the repulse, at Woodsonville, of a con- 
siderable body of Texan Rangers, by Colonel Willich's Thirty- 
second Indiana — a spirited little action, fought on the 17th, 
which kindled the enthusiasm of Buell's entire army. 

The following changes took place among the officers of the 
Sixth Ohio, about ten days after the regiment reached Camp 
Wickliffe : First Lieutenant Thatcher, promoted from second 
lieutenant of Company K, was transferred to Company F; 
First Lieutenant Charles C. Peck, promoted from quartermas- 
ter-sergeant, and Second Lieutenant Edward M. Gettier, pro- 
moted from private in Company B, were assigned to Company 
K ; and Coporal Robert W. Wise, of Company E, was appointed 
to the vacant position of quartermaster-sergeant. About the 
same time. Second Lieutenant William E. Sheridan, promoted 
from sergeant-major, was assigned to Company H; and Harry 
Gee, first sergeant of Company K, was appointed his succes- 
sor as sergeant-major. 



CAMP WICKLIFFE. 179 



CHAPTER XIV. 

CAMP WICKLIFFE. 

(DECEMBER H, 1S61-FEBRUARY 13, 1862.) 

rXlHE Sixth Ohio remained at Camp Wickliffe two months, 
-*- to a day. The events which that period embraces could 
be recorded most easily, perhaps, precisely in their chronolog- 
ical order. But this would be to burden the narrative with 
needless repetitions, and make it as wearisome as 

" The thrice-told tale of garrulous old age." 

The better method of treating any aggregation of such subjects 
as are most of those which fall within the scope of this chap- 
ter, seems to be to select the leading incidents and present 
them in those groupings and with those accessories that will 
bring into the boldest relief the features which possess an en- 
during interest; and, if in some parts of the recital there 
should appear a lack of connection, the reader should remem- 
ber that many of the occurrences tending to break the monot- 
ony of camp life are purely episodical in their character, and 
that, at best, the writer who truthfully describes military ex- 
perience in the intervals between active campaigning, is, by 
the very nature of his subject, limited to the functions of a 
mere chronicler. 

For more than two weeks after the establishment of Camp 



180 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

Wickliffe, the weather continued remarkably favorable for drill 
purposes, and was improved to the utmost. " We have drills 
of all sorts/' says a private letter of this period ; " squad drill, 
company drill, battalion drill, brigade drill; officer's drill, 
skirmish drill, and drills in the bayonet exercise; drill in 
quick-time, drill at double-quick, and drill upon the run ; drill 
with knapsacks, and drill without them; drill to the tap of 
the drum, drill with bugle calls, and drill at the route step; 
drill in the morning, drill till noon, and drill up to the hour 
for evening dress parade ; — an incessant round of drill, drill, 
drill ! " Even after the storms of winter came on, the morn- 
ing must have been bleak indeed, or the drill-grounds shoe- 
top deep in mud, before the order ever came, " No drills to- 
day." Occasionally, the exercises were varied by an inspection, 
or, if an afternoon was particularly fine, by a grand review. 
On several nights, and those, of course, as dark and dreary as 
the season could afford, the long-roll was beaten, and, although 
the alarms invariably proved false, or, more strictly speaking, 
accidental, the alacrity and full ranks with which the Sixth 
Ohio always formed in line at such times pleased General Nel- 
son greatly. 

" The winter holidays " are words of little import to a sol- 
dier ; nevertheless, the season brought some rest to the Fourth 
Division. Drills were omitted upon both Christmas day and 
New Year's, and sociability ruled the hour. General Nelson 
himself setting the example.* The 8th of January, the anni- 

* Among the many reminiscences of Camp Wickliffe, an especially pleas- 
ant one to some of the officers will be the evening spent at Colonel Has- 
call's head-quarters, on the 30th of December. It was the first time that a 
majority of those present had seen General Nelson unbend in social inter- 
course. " We found him a genial gentleman," writes one of the party, 
" a ready speaker, full of anecdote and wit ; one who has traveled all 



CAMP WICKLIFFE. 181 

versary of the battle of New Orleans, was also kept as a holiday. 
"The name and services of Andrew Jackson/' said the order 
directing its observance, " are now, more than ever, precious 
to the heart of every patriot. It was the Union established 
by the Federal Constitution for which he fought and labored. 
He defended it against a foreign foe ; he saved it from domestic 
traitors, and, warning his countrymen against the treason lie 
had baffled, predicted the renewal of its plottings, which sur- 
vived him. On the present generation has devolved the sacred 
duty of emulating his patriotism and of completing his work. 
It is to us, arrayed for the cause so dear to him, that his great 
injunction is pronounced: 'The Federal Union — it must and 
shall be preserved ! ' " 

The Fourth Division was not long in discovering the ter- 
rible earnestness of its commander in every thing to which he 
put his hand, from the giant task of crushing rebellion to the 
posting of a single sentinel. His tireless energy permeated 
every department of military administration. Says a news- 
paper correspondent,* writing from Camp Wickliffe: "There 
is no measure to General Nelson's industry. This morning at 
daylight he mounted his horse, without waiting for breakfast, 
and dashed away on a ride of miles to secure some houses for 



over the world, and speaks fluently half a dozen languages." The even- 
ing's enjoyment was heightened by the admirable recitations of those 
notabilities of the Sixth Ohio, Lieutenant Sheridan and Alf Burnett. A 
medical officer of the division, a personal friend of General Nelson, relates 
that on their return from Colonel Hascall's head-quarters, the General 
spoke particularly of the intelligence and varied talent to be found in the 
Sixth Ohio, concluding with the following unique but characteristic com- 
mendation : " They are the biggest rascals in my division, sir ; the smartest 
boys in the army! " 
*" Orderly," February 2, 1862. 



182 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

the sick of the Fifty-first Ohio. He finds out infractions of 
orders, inefficiency of officers, want of punctuality on the part 
of sentinels and pickets — in a word, every thing that is not in 
accordance with his orders — in a way that is astonishing to 
every body. And if to-morrow you should introduce a man 
within ten miles of this encampment, ten chances to one Gen- 
eral Nelson would tell you at once to which side he belongs, 
and especially what, if any thing, he has done to help the rebels. 
He is the 'Index Rerum' of these things, as well as of all 
information touching roads, rivers, bridges, and creeks. That 
he will have his troops well fed and clothed, his quartermasters 
well know; that he will have his sick kindly cared for and 
made comfortable, his surgeons well know ; and if there is a 
screw found loose in either department, the screw-driver sticks 
where it properly belongs." 

" General Nelson," writes another correspondent,* " has been 
dealing destruction among negligent and incompetent officers, 
so many of whom have been placed under arrest that his quar- 
ters present the appearance of a second-hand sword store. He 
is daily becoming more popular with the men. Troops with 
ordinary intelligence soon learn that a general who holds 
officers responsible for dereliction from duty, and who sees that 
his soldiers are fed with wholesome food and properly clothed, 
and that the sick are cared for, is their true friend, notwith- 
standing the strictness which may characterize his require- 
ments regarding military discipline." 

Few have been the troops whose health and comfort were 
the object of more painstaking solicitude than was extended 
the Fourth Division while at Camp Wickliffe. For example, 
not only were the men furnished regular supplies of fresh meat, 

*"Nemo," January 8, 1862. 



CAMP WICKLIFFE. 183 

but they had also the benefits of a General Order from Division 
Head-quarters, prescribing the best mode of preparing soup 
therefrom.* Other orders protected them against the imposi- 
tions of pie-peddlers and the division bakeries. Nor could 
sutlers complain of being overlooked, so long as they were re- 
membered in orders, such as the following, which bears date 
January 25th, 1862: "The Brigadier-General learned yester- 
day, to his great indignation, that, on several occasions, wag- 
oners had either neglected or refused to bring to camp, hospital 
supplies and comforts for the sick from New Haven, but had 
left them there and hurried forward sutler's goods in prefer- 
ence. No sutler's goods will, upon any pretense, be allowed 
in a Government wagon. The guard of the Forty-first Ohio 
will stop every wagon coming from New Haven and search 
it under the inspection of the officer of the guard, and, if any 
sutler's goods are found therein, they will arrest the teamster, 
and also the wagon-master, and report their names to these 
head-quarters for trial by court-martial. The goods will be 
held subject to further orders." About New Year's, in accord- 
ance with instructions from Department Head-quarters, a gen- 
eral inspection of blankets was held in each regiment, and all 
that were found to be under the regulation weight were re- 
placed by a better article. Among all the comforts of Camp 
AYickliffe life, however, none was greater than the regularity 
and promptitude of the mails. 

The attention which General Nelson gave the hospital ar- 
rangements of his division, has been so far indicated in pre- 
ceding paragraphs, that little more need here be added, save to 
mention the efficiency of the medical department, under the 

* General Nelson's somewhat famous "beef-soup order" ■will be found 
in full in the chapter in Part II, entitled " Training under Nelson." 



184 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

management of Dr. William H. Mussey, Medical Director of 
the Division, a kind-hearted and most faithful officer. Dr. J. 
Taylor Bradford, brigade surgeon of the Tenth Brigade, and 
a warm personal friend of General Nelson, was scarcely less 
active in devising means for improving the sanitary condition 
of the command, which was far from satisfactory. A few days 
of comjoarative inaction developed among the men camp 
diarrhea and rheumatism. Measles next appeared and swept 
over the camp, and in two or three regiments typhoid fever 
committed ravages, while, in others, small-pox, with its loath- 
some clasp, was soon at work, creating a degree of real terror. 
The Forty-first Ohio was the first, and, for some time, the 
principal sufferer. It was encamped upon the same ridge with 
the Sixth Ohio, and in close proximity ; the men of both regi- 
ments went to the same stream for water; the same care was 
taken in policing their respective grounds ; and if either regi- 
ment had the advantage in regard to the supply of tents and 
camp equipage it belonged to the Forty-first. But the latter 
was comparatively a new regiment, and the discipline of its 
commander, which eventually brought it to the highest stand- 
ard of efficiency and gave it rank with the very flower of 
the army, at first proved a severe and exhausting ordeal. 
These causes, in connection with others, swelled its sick list 
to an alarming magnitude; though, somewhat later, an In- 
diana regiment took precedence of it in this unenviable par- 
ticular. 

Meantime, the health of the Sixth was such as to excite 
general marvel and win golden opinions for the regiment at 
division head-quarters. Statistics prove that, for healthful- 
ness, the Sixth Ohio had no rival among the troops serving in 
the region between the AUeghanies and the Mississippi River, 



CAMP WICKLIFFE. 185 

during the winter of 1861-2, and, at no period, was much sur- 
passed by any regiment in the entire army.* 

It did not lose a man by death at Camp Wickliffe, and there 
is reason to believe that its rate of mortality from disease con- 
tinued to the day of its muster-out lower than that of any other 

*In support of this statement there is abundance of wholly disinter- 
ested testimony. One authority we must be pardoned for quoting at 
length. In an able and carefully-digested paper, entitled "Sanitary Con- 
dition of the Army," which appeared in " the Atlantic Monthly," for Oc- 
tober, 1862, Dr. Edward Jarvis, of Boston, Massachusetts, gives the fol- 
lowing interesting statistics: "The excellent reports of the inquiries of the 
Sanitary Commission give much important and trustworthy information in 
regard to the amount and kind of sickness in the present army of the 
United States. Most of the encampments of all the corps have been ex- 
amined by their inspectors, and their returns show that the average num- 
ber of sick, during the seven months ending with February last, was, 
among the troops who were recruited in New England 74.6, among those 
from the Middle States 56.6, and, during six months ending with Janu- 
ary, among those from the Western States, 104.3 in 1,000 men. From 
an examination of 217 regiments, during two months ending the middle 
of February [exactly covering the period of the occupation of Camp Wick- 
liffe], the rate of sickness among the troops in the Eastern Sanitary Depart- 
ment was 74, in the Central Department, Western Virginia and Ohio, 90,. 
and in the Western, 107 in 1,000. The highest rate in Eastern Virginia 
was 281 per 1,000, in the Fifth Vermont; and the lowest 9, in the Seventh 
Massachusetts. In the Central Department, the highest was 260, in the 
Forty-first Ohio; and the lowest 17, in the Sixth Ohio. In the Western 
Department, [west of the Mississipi,] the highest was 340, in the Forty- 
second Illinois; and the lowest 15, in the Thirty-sixth Illinois." 

The medical records of the Fourth Division, for the period under con- 
sideration, show that, while some regiments were reporting from 200 to 
390 sick, for several days together, the Sixth Ohio rarely had as many aa 
25 excused from duty, and sometimes as low as 5 or 6. The standing 
of the Fifty -first Ohio and Thirty-fourth Indiana, in point of healthful- 
ness, was also very good. 



186 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

organization in the field. Dr. Stephens relates the following 
conversation which took place one day at Camp Wickliffe, be- 
tween General Nelson and himself: 

" How many men in your hospital to-day, Doctor ? " 

" One, sir." 

"How many excused from duty?" 

"Four, sir." 

"Devilish strange, sir! devilish strange! I have just come 
back from two of the regiments right above you, and in them 
it takes all the well to wait on the sick and bury the dead. 
How do you account for such a difference in the health of 
my regiments. Doctor?" 

" Partly, General, by the fact that ours is a city regiment. 
Our men have always been used to taking care of themselves, 
they are independent and self-reliant, they never get home- 
sick. Then, too, the city -bred are generally less regular in 
their habits than men brought up in the country, and more 
accustomed to keeping all sorts of hours, as soldiers have to 
do. But I think the principal reason. General, why our boys 
are so healthy is that they all Ulce clean rooter. They bathe at 
all hours and in all seasons, while a great many others seem 
never to think of doing such a thing, unless actually suffering 
from heat." 

" That is true, sir. I have often noticed it myself. Wher- 
ever there is a puddle of water, you will find a squad of Sixth 
Ohio men, with their soap and towels, even when it is cold 
enough to freeze the water on their backs." 

The neat appearance of the Sixth Ohio on inspection, and 
the unusual cleanliness of its camp, propitiated General Nel- 
son's favor still further, and on one occasion drew from him the 
decided compliment of ordering the colonel of a neighboring 
regiment to send a sergeant from each of his companies to visit 



CAMP WICKLIFFE. 187 

and take pattern from the camp of the Sixth Ohio — an order 
which was rekictantly obeyed. 

Early in January, the division received the considerable ac- 
cession of four new regiments, namely, the Sixth Kentucky, 
and the Forty-sixth, Forty-seventh, and Fiftieth Indiana. 
The first three were associated with the Forty-first Ohio, to 
constitute the Nineteenth Brigade, under the command of Col- 
onel Hazen, while the Fiftieth Indiana replaced that officer's 
own regiment in the Fifteenth Brigade. Two companies of 
the Michigan Mechanics and Engineers (the organization 
which was afterward known as the " First Michigan Engineer 
Corps"), under command of Major Enos Hopkins, had arrived 
a few days earlier, and were attached, for drill purposes, to the 
Forty-first Ohio. Two companies of cavalry, composed prin- 
cipally of Germans, had also joined the division, for courier 
and outpost duty. 

In the second week of January, General Nelson had a con- 
gestive chill, which confined him to his room at the neighbor- 
ing farin-house (INIr. McDougal's) for some days. Colonel 
Hascall, who was ill at the same time, obtained a short leave 
of absence, and thus Colonel Bosley, as ranking officer, was 
temporarily left in command of the brigade. 

Immediately upon the arrival of his third brigade, as above 
mentioned. General Nelson ordered an exchange of arms 
throughout the division, " so that no regiment should have 
rifles of different calibers." Accordingly, on the 12th of Jan- 
uary, the Sixth Ohio transferred three hundred and eighty- 
three of its "Greenwood muskets" to the Fiftieth Indiana, 
and two hundred and seventy-four to the Fifteenth Indiana, 
receiving, in exchange, Enfield and Belgian rifles. Many of 
the latter were in bad condition, and never proved equal, in 
point of serviceability, to the old " flint-locks altered." On the 



188 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

following day, the regiment received a supply of Sibley, in 
place of the English bell tents — five for each company. Al- 
though considerable crowding Avas still necessary, this exchange 
was, upon the whole, a very desirable one. 

The regimental order-book of the Sixth Ohio shows that 
several boards of survey were appointed at Camp "VVickliffe, 
principally for the examination of various stores in the pos- 
session of Quartermaster Shoemaker, but their proceedings were 
comparatively unimportant. Of courts-martial, there were two. 
The first, Avhich was in session during the last week of De- 
cember, consisted of Captains Westcott and Clarke, and Lieu- 
tenants Getty, Morgan, and Royse, with Captain Erwin as 
Judge Advocate. The second met on the 3d of January, and 
was comjwsed of Captain Clarke, and Lieutenants Morgan and 
Royse, Captain Tatem acting as Judge Advocate. Thirty-three 
cases in all were tried by these courts, several of them result- 
ing in acquittals. The offenses charged were unauthorized ab- 
sence from camp, roll-call, or drill, and the like derelictions, 
none of them calling for any severer punishment than a little 
extra duty, forfeiture of a few dollars of pay, or confinement 
in the guard-house on bread and water. 

On the 4th of January, Adjutant Heron started for Cincin- 
nati, upon a seven days' leave of absence, granted, as the order 
expressly stated, "for his attention to duty while passing 
through Cincinnati." General Reynolds' military household 
having been broken up. Lieutenant William P. Anderson re- 
ported at Camp Wickliffe, on the 2d of February, and was 
immediately detailed as aid-de-camp on General Nelson's staff. 
About the same time Philip Cobb succeeded Andy Hall as 
sutler of the Sixth Ohio. 

Early in 1862, Lieutenant Jesse Merrill, an officer of the 



CAMP WICKLIFFE. 189 

Seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves, who had proven 
very efficient in the signal corps of the Army of the Potomac, 
was ordered West to extend the system throughout the Army 
of the Ohio. The excellent detail furnished by the Sixth Ohio 
for this service consisted of Second Lieutenant Sheridan, Cor- 
poral Robert Howdon, Company E ; and privates William F. 
Doepke and Frederick H. Alms, Company D. 

On the 26th of January, in compliance with orders for the 
detail of a recruiting party from each regiment in the division, 
the following members of the Sixth Ohio were ordered to re- 
port, without delay, to Major N. C. Macrae, Superintendent 
of Recruiting Service for the State of Ohio, namely. Lieuten- 
ants Royse and Morris ; Sergeant J. W. Easley, Company G ; 
Sergeant S. Austin Thayer, Company B; Corporal John 
Crotty, Company Cj and private Charles M. Thompson, 
Company A. Upon reaching Columbus, Sergeant Thayer 
found a commission awaiting him in another command ; and 
the rest of the party, having quite failed of success, in March 
were ordered to the regiment. 

One of the Stewart's Run prisoners, private Matthias Sie- 
bert, returned to the regiment during the last week in Janu- 
ary, having secured his early release by stratagem. While 
acting as nurse in a prisoners' hospital, Siebert one day saw 
the announcement in a Richmond paper that a large number 
of Union prisoners were about to be exchanged, those captured 
at Manassas to go first. He contrived to pass himself off for 
one of the favored class, and in a few days was on his way 
to Washington. Another of the Company I captives, private 
Eli Miller, rejoined the regiment soon afterward. 

Toward the close of January, the oft-repeated rumors of a 
forward movement began to assume definite shape. Acting 



190 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

under instructions, of course, from the department commander, 
General Nelson was evidently " clearing the decks " for action. 
With a prudent forecast of the necessities which might arise, 
when the command should make its anticipated advance, he 
had previously forbidden the collection of forage from the 
country toward Green River ; the wagons had been prepared 
and the mules shod; all the gunsmiths in camp had been 
sought out, and were busily at work in repairing defective 
arms; the sick had been sent to general hospital, and now a 
barracks was established at Nelson's Furnace, near New Ha- 
ven, for the care of " convalescents.''* Colonel Bosley, whose 
health had been unsettled for several months, was placed in 
command at the latter, and, on the 6th of February, left the 
regiment, never to be with it more, save for a few days shortly 
after the battle of Shiloh. February 5th, the troops received 
marching orders, indicating a change of camp — from sanitary 
considerations, as was understood f-^^but foreshadowing, as 
well, a general advance upon the enemy beyond Green River. 
The Tenth Brigade was directed to move upon the 7th, which 
it did, marching southward, on the turn2)ike, about ten miles, 
to Shipps'. It was intended that the Nineteenth and Fifteenth 
Brigades should follow, at intervals of one day; but further 
movements were restrained by advices from General Buell. 

* In a division order, dated February 1, a list is given of the number 
of convalescents sent to the barracks, from several regiments at Camp 
Wickliffe, as follows: From the Sixth Ohio, 8; Seventeenth Indiana, 35; 
Fifteenth Indiana, 47 ; Fiftieth Indiana, 60 ; Forty-seventh Indiana, 46. 

fin consequence of the great amount of sickness at Camp Wickliffe, 
General Buell had determined to encamp the Fourth Division elsewhere, 
and directed Dr. Bradford to select a more healthy location. The latter 
was furnished with one hundred men, as an escort, for this duty, and 
promptly made a written report to General Buell; but, before its suggestions 
could be acted on, the division received marching orders for West Point. 



CAMP WICKLIFFE. 191 

For a series of operations in another quarter, which, although 
projected scarcely two weeks before, were now in course of rapid 
development, had changed the aspect of the entire campaign. 
The Army of the Ohio was indeed to possess the coveted strat- 
egic center. Bowling Green, and to pass far and rapidly beyond 
it; but the blows which should open the way for these grand 
results were already being struck by the gallant Army of the 
Tennessee. The glorious initiative of the campaign, however, 
belonged to the Army of the Ohio, General Thomas' division 
of which had fought and won Mill Springs three weeks before. 
The day was raw and gloomy on which the tidings of that de- 
cisive victory reached Camp Wickliffe, and, the ground being 
very muddy, drills were entirely suspended. About 1 P. M., 
the Sixth Ohio was called into line, by a hurriedly-beaten 
drum-call, when Adjutant Heron read the following: 

Geneeal Orders, No. 11. 

Head-quakteks Fourth Division, Army of the Ohio, 1 
Camp Wickliffe, January 21, 1862. ) 

The Brigadier-General takes great pleasure in informing the • 
division that General Thomas carried Zollicoffer's position [day 
before] yesterday, by assault, killing Zollicoffer himself and four 
hundred of his men, and taking all his arms and artillery and a 
great many prisoners. A glorious victory! "The Union must 
and shall be preserved ! " 

By order of 

General Nelson. 

J. Mills Kendrick, A. A. A. G. 

The moment the reading was over, a murmur of hardly- 
repressed enthusiasm ran down the line ; and an impulsive cap- 
tain in the left wing stepped out of ranks, and cried, " Hip, 
hip — " but before he could add the final word, was interrupted 



192 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

by the command from Colonel Bosley, "Stack arms!" fol- 
lowed by "Three cheers for the Union and General Thomas' 
victory ! " 

They were given with a will — three strong, full-voiced, 
exultant shouts, such as one might have sworn were loyal ones 
at the distance of a mile away. 

" Now a tiger ! " After which the battalion was dismissed. 
Similar scenes were enacted in every regiment on the ground. 

On the 8th of February, intelligence came of the capture 
of Fort Henry, on the Tennessee; then the story of Burn- 
side's success at Roanoke Island; and on the 13th, march- 
ing orders. General Grant had invested Fort Donelson, and 
thither the Fourth Division was ordered as reenforcements. 



FROM CAMP WICKLIFFE TO NASHVILLE. 193 



CHAPTER XV. 
FROM CAMP WICKLIFFE TO NASHVILLE. 

(FEBRUARY 14-25, 1862.) 

"VrTHEN the Fourth Division received its marching orders, 
' ^ the Nineteenth Brigade and the Sixth Ohio were all 
that remained at Camp Wickliffe. The Fifteenth, Seventeenth, 
and Fiftieth Indiana — the associates of the Sixth Ohio in the 
Fifteenth Brigade — had followed the Tenth Brigade toward 
Green River, on the 10th of February ; soon after which they 
were permanently detached from General Nelson's command. 
The first two were transferred to the Sixth Division, in whose 
organization (now being completed under General Thomas J. 
Wood, at Bardstown, Kentucky) the colonels of both regi- 
ments were appointed to the command of brigades. 

The afternoon of February 13th was passed in busy prep- 
arations for the march; in the evening a snow-storm set in, 
and before morning the weather had turned very cold. But 
reveille was punctually beaten at 4 A. M. of Friday, the 14th, 
and three hours later the column started, the Sixth Ohio in 
the rear of the Nineteenth Brigade. Leaving the turnpike 
two miles south of Camp Wickliffe, the troops took a narrow 
country road which leads off on the right, through Hodgens- 
ville, the county seat of La Rue County. That village they 
passed about 11 A. M., by which time the sun was shining 
13 



194 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

with power, and the road had become quite heavy. Late in 
the afternoon they reached the Louisville and Nashville turn- 
pike, at a point about two miles south of Elizabethtown, where 
they immediately went into bivouac, after an exhausting march 
of fifteen miles. The wagons had mired two miles or more 
before reaching Hodgensville. It was a bitter cold night, with 
three inches of snow on the ground, and the men suffered, in 
spite of fence-rail fires, and the bedding of straw with which 
most of them had managed to provide themselves. 

While the brigade, next day, lay idly waiting for its trains, 
a hundred rumors were put in' circulation regarding the move- 
ments of Buell's army. General Mitchel had marched rapidly 
upon Bowling Green, on the 13th instant, and was actually 
in possession of that stronghold, which fact, however, was not 
yet known; and when, during the forenoon, the troops saw 
an artillery train from the Green River camps turned hastily 
back, and sent toward Munfordville, many readily accepted 
the explanation that Mitchel was in urgent need of reenforce- 
ments, and wondered whether the Fourth Division also would 
be ordered to his relief. Utterly at fault though these conjec- 
tures were, one regiment on the ground did narrowly escape 
making the long march to Nashville, in the footsteps of Gen- 
eral Mitchel — a department order, dated February 11th, hav- 
ing transferred the Sixth Ohio to the Twenty-second Brigade, 
Colonel Saunders D. Bruce commanding, which it was directed 
to join, without delay, in the vicinity of Munfordville. Gen- 
eral Nelson immediately telegraphed for permission to retain 
the regiment, if only as a personal favor; but it was not un- 
til the column was again on the march — the Sixth Ohio in its 
place, and every step lengthening the distance between it and 
Munfordville — that General Buell's welcome answer came: 
" The Sixth Ohio will remain in the Fourth Division." About 



FROM CAMP WICKLIFFE TO NASHVILLE. 195 

three o'clock in the afternoon, Colonel Aramen's brigade ap- 
peared in sight from the direction of Hodgensville, and, filing out 
upon the turnpike, continued its march toward Elizabethtown. 
The Nineteenth Brigade immediately followed, and did not halt 
until overtaken by night-fall, six miles from its last bivouac, and 
four miles north of Elizabethtown. The wagons still being be- 
hind, and, in consequence, many of the men suffering from hun- 
ger, Lieutenant Peck was sent back to hasten them forward, 
which he did with his accustomed energy. The troops passed 
another cold night in much the same manner as before. 

Next morning — Sunday, February 16th — one day's rations 
were issued the Sixth Ohio from the stores belonging to Com- 
panies F and G, Avhose wagons had fortunately come up during 
the night, and by sunrise the column was again in motion. A 
march of eighteen miles brought it to another camping-place al- 
most within sight of West Point; the trains were soon on the 
ground, tents were pitched, and more rations issued, and, not- 
withstanding a steady rain, the night was passed most comfort- 
ably. West Point is a decayed-looking village on the Ohio, at 
the mouth of' Salt River, twenty -five miles below Louisville. 
Here a fleet of steamboats had been ordered to rendezvous, for 
the purpose of transporting the Fourth Division to Fort Don- 
elson, where considerable fighting had taken place, but, up to 
the date of the latest dispatches, without decisive results. Two 
volunteer batteries had joined the column the day before, and 
now, for the first time, the troops began to comprehend the real 
object of the expedition. 

At dark, on Sunday evening, only two boats had arrived, 
but the succeeding dawn discovered sixteen of them, some, 
already freighted with stores, lying out in the Ohio, and the 
remainder pushed up into the mouth of Salt River. The day 
was raw, with a cold, drizzling rain. The landing was nearly 



196 



THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 



two miles distant, and when the Sixth Ohio reached it, about 9 
A. M., the Tenth Brigade was rapidly embarking, in the man- 
ner indicated in the following order : 



General Orders, No. 17. 

Head-quarters Fourth Division 
Camp at Mouth of Salt River, Feb. 16 

The followino; is the order of embarkation : 



5I0N, ) 

, 1862. 1 



24th Ohio Volunteers, on the Autocrat, 
51st " " " John Raine, 

36th. Ind. » " Woodford, 

6th Ohio " " Diana. 



Tenth Brigade, 
Colonel Ammen. 



41stO.V. 



right wing on the Silver Moon, 



47th Ind. ]i^f^ 



left " " Lady Jackson. 
C right " " Glendale, 
" Lady Pike. 
Cos. A, F, D, and I on the Zilla. 
46th Ind. ^ " C, H, and E on the City of Madison. 
" K, Gr, and B, on the Golden State. 
right wing on the City of Madison, 
left " " Switzerland. 



6th Ky. 



Nineteenth 

Brigade, 

Col. Hazen. 



One company of the Michigan Engineers will embark on board 
the Autocrat, and the other on board the Golden State. The 
34th Indiana Volunteers will be divided between the steamers, by 
verbal (Orders, at the moment of embarkation. 

The Brigadier-General commanding the Division will embark 
on board the Diana. 

The steamers will move in two columns, in the following order: 



Diana, 
John Raine, 



Autocrat, 
Woodford. 



Tenth 
Bri<rade. 



Interval. 



FROM CAMP WICKLIFFE TO NASHVILLE. 197 

Silver Moon, Lady Jackson, 

Grlendale, Lady Pike, 

City of Madison, Switzerland, >* t. . 

Brigade. 
Zilla, Lancaster, No. 4. 

Golden State, 

This order of moving will be strictly observed, tbe regiments 
moving to the landing in the order herein mentioned. Three 
days' rations will be drawn and cooked previous to embarkation. 



By command of 

General Nelson. 

J. Mills Kendrice, A. A. A. G. 

The Diana, which General Nelson had selected as the flag- 
ship, was comparatively a new boat, and the most commodious 
in the fleet, having originally been built for the New Orleans 
trade. It was crowded — deck, hold, and cabin — for it carried, 
in addition to the General and his entire head-quarters' estab- 
lishment, the Sixth Ohio Regiment, which was exactly eight 
hundred strong, two companies of the Thirty-fourth Indiana, 
and a detachment of cavalry, with all the horses, mules, and 
wagons belonging to these commands. Early in the .forenoon 
General Nelson had received intelligence of the terrific fighting 
at Fort Donelson on the previous Saturday, but, with the ut- 
most dispatch possible, the embarkation was not completed 
until near dark ; soon after which the whole fleet steamed 
down the Ohio. 

Tuesday, the eighteenth, was clear and cold. About 9 A. M. 
the Diana reached Cannelton, at which place dispatches were 
received announcing the fall of Fort Donelson, whereupon 
General Nelson hastened to the hurricane deck and read them 
to his division. Cheer upon cheer followed from all over the 
fleet, the bands struck up the "Star-spangled Banner," and 



198 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

the citizens on shore produced a two-pounder cannon, which 
was soon lending its liliputian roar to swell the general re- 
joicing. The Army of the Tennessee had done its work un- 
aided, and there was nothing now for the Fourth Division to 
do at Donelson. General Nelson was instructed to proceed to 
Evansville and there await further orders; which he did, the 
Tenth Brigade, meanwhile, moving on to Smithland. 

On the morning of the 19th, the destination of the division 
not yet having been determined, the Diana moved up to the 
mouth of Green River, ten miles above Evansville, where that 
portion of the fleet which was still in company with the flag- 
ship remained all day, closely hugging the icy bank of a low, 
wooded island, almost out of sight and sound of human hab- 
itation. 

About 4 A. M., on the 20th, the Diana again dropped down 
the river to Evansville, where Nelson had an interview with 
General Thomas L. Crittenden, commanding the Fifth Divis- 
ion of the Army of the Ohio, on board the steamer Atlantic. 
The residue of the fleet was, meantime, making the best of 
its way up the river, having been ordered back to West 
Point, there to disembark the troops. About 9 A. M., how- 
ever, orders came from General Buell to proceed, with the en- 
tire division, to Paducah ; and, in high spirits. General Nelson 
returned to the Diana, ordered every poupd of steam raised 
that the boilers would safely bear, and, while every timber in 
the boats quivered to the strokes of the piston below, started 
up the Ohio to overhaul and turn back the rest of his divis- 
ion. By dark the flag-ship was again at Cannelton, and coal- 
ing busily, -with the W. W. Crawford lying along-side — a swal- 
low-like little craft, used by General Buell as a dispatch boat. 

At reveille on the 21st (for Jake Fifer beat the calls as 
punctually as though the Sixth Ohio were resting cosily in 



FROM CAMP WICKLIFFE TO NASHVILLE. 199 

caraji), the Diana was passing the mouth of the Wabash. It 
was a pleasant day, and tlie hurricane deck was crowded with 
soldiery engaged in noting the scenery and every object of in- 
terest on the bank. Past Shawneetown, on the Illinois shore; 
past Cave-in-the-rock (the robbers' den of former days), with 
all its weird legends; past the mouth of the Cumberland, up 
which the troops caught their first eager glimpse of a gunboat ; 
past Smithland, with its background of fortified hills, whence 
the Stars and Stripes flapped welcome to the Fourth Division ; 
and, at 1 P. M., the Diana rounded to at Paducah, and tied 
up just above the Marine Hospital. Here the Thirty-fourth, 
Forty-sixth, and Forty-seventh Indiana were detached from 
Nelson's division for service under General Pope. What 
remained of the Fourth Division — namely, six regiments of 
infantry, two batteries of artillery, and two companies of 
cavalry — lay at Paducah, for nearly two days, awaiting or- 
ders. Nashville, which had not yet been occupied by Union 
troops, was the prize which Nelson coveted. General Grant, 
under positive instructions from Halleck, had moved no 
portion of his forces further up the Cumberland than Clarks- 
ville; but Mitchel, a most determined marcher, was making 
a bold push southward from Bowling Green, and hours were 
precious. Under his enforced delay, Nelson grew more and 
more impatient. 

On Sunday morning, February 23d, the anxiously-awaited 
orders came ; by nine o'clock the whole fleet was steaming up 
the Ohio, and, at Smithland entering the mouth of the Cum- 
berland, bore away toward Nashville. " It was a bright, glo- 
rious day," says the diary from which we have already trans- 
ferred several pictures of army life, " a fitting herald of the 
spring now so near at hand. Save half an hour's work in 
scrubbing the cabin (a duty for which a considerable squad 



200 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

was detailed this morning), I spent nearly the whole of it, 
until bed-time, on the hurricane deck. Amid such surround- 
ings, and in such spirits as the men all are, it was impossible 
not to enjoy the trip most keenly. The Cumberland being 
over its banks, we were continually passing almost whole farms 
under water, little volcanic-looking peaks of hay-stacks and 
miniature reefs of corn-shocks indicating the real character 
of what otherwise resembled broad lagoons. About half-past 
three in the afternoon we met the steamer John H. Dickey, 
from Fort Donelson. General Nelson mounted the wheel- 
house (to our no small alarm at first, lest he had overestimated 
its capacity to sustain so much avoirdupois), and hailed, ' Is 
Nashville taken ? ' ' Yes ! ' shouted a dozen voices in reply. 
Without making any comments, the general descended, and 
we — shall we believe it or not? Soon after this we entered 
a more mountainous country, passing Eddysville about half- 
past four. It was dark long before we reached the Tennessee 
line, and all hope of seeing Fort Donelson had to be given up. 
Going below when tattoo sounded, I was soon sleeping a rest- 
less, troubled sleep, disturbed by half-waking dreams and half- 
sleeping reveries made up of confused, kaleidoscopic combina- 
tions of those absorbing topics — Donelson, Clarksville, Nash- 
ville; Nelson, Buell, Mitchel, Grant; and, as always, home! 
The night was dark, and the river full of heavy drift, but the 
Diana, having slackened her speed somewhat, bore steadily on. 
About three in the morning I was awakened by a tremendous 
crash, and, rushing on deck, found the General giving the pilot 
^ Hail Columbia ' for having mistaken the channel and run the 
boat into the woods ; and, although examination showed that 
no serious damage had been done, it was thought best to lay by 
until daylight, especially as most of the other boats were an un- 
known distance in the rear." 



FROM CAMP WICKLIFFE TO NASHVILLE. 201 

About sunrise, on the morning of the 24th, the steamer Ti- 
gress was met coming from Clarksville, and Nelson had a brief 
conference with General Grant, who was on board, during which 
he learnt that Nashville was not yet taken. Passing the gun- 
boat Louisville at half-past eight o'clock, the Diana approached 
Clarksville. Flags, of truce, improvised from all sorts of white- 
colored stuff, were hung out from nearly half the buildings along 
the shore, originally intended, no doubt, for the propitiation of 
the gunboats, whose advance, under Commodore Foote, had 
reached here on the 19th instant; while two or three premises 
were passed which had been left under the aegis of the British 
lion, or, in other words, displayed the national ensign of Eng- 
land. Half a mile below the town was an extensive fortification, 
partially finished, with a few guns actually in position, and com- 
manding perfectly the river channel. Every thing had been 
hurriedly abandoned, however, upon the fall of Donelson, and 
a large rolling-mill near by, which had been turning out im- 
mense quantities of ordnance stores for the enemy, was now a 
black, fire-blasted heap of ruins. Floyd's brigade, in its flight 
from Fort Donelson, had also destroyed one span of the turn- 
bridge on the Memphis and Ohio Railroad. 

Clarksville had been taken possession of, on the 21st, by a 
brigade under General Charles F. Smith, and still wore a very 
deserted appearance. The Diana had been lying nearly three 
hours at the landing, when two cavalrymen dashed into the 
town with dispatches from General Buell, at Bowling Green^ 
They had been twenty- five hours in the saddle, and brought 
welcome tidings for the Fourth Division. Mitchel positively 
was not in Nashville, and, as the enemy in his retreat from 
thence had destroyed both bridges across the Cumberland, and 
burned the steamboats at the wharf, the approaching fleet 
would probably have to furnish ferriage for his forces, and was 



202 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

ordered to push forward as rapidly as possible. But Nelson 
needed no urging ; it was enough that the Fourth Division 
might yet be the first body of National troops in Nashville. 
Although some of the boats were still a considerable distance 
in the rear, the Diana swung loose at once, and all that sunny 
afternoon steamed steadily on, four companies of the Sixth 
Ohio occupying the hurricane deck, ready to return the fire 
of any guerrilla parties who might possibly be lurking on the 
banks. Late in the afternoon, a water-battery of five guns 
was discovered on an island at the head of Harpeth Shoals; 
but it was known that the gunboat Cairo, Lieutenant Bryant 
commanding, was in advance, and, without delaying a moment 
to reconnoiter, the fleet passed on. Night settled upon the 
surrounding scenes, moonless, but clear and starlighted, and 
two hours later the Cairo was overtaken, laboring heavily up 
stream, in tow of a steamboat, which afterward proved to be 
the latan, lately escaped from Nashville. About half-past 
nine the Cairo tied up for the night, and in accordance with 
his instructions, which had been to follow in the gunboat's 
wake. General Nelson reluctantly gave orders for the fleet to 
follow the example. It was fifteen miles to Nashville. 

Early on the bright and beautiful morning of Tuesday, Feb- 
ruary 25th, the fleet again got under way. Seven miles below 
Nashville, by the winding course of the Cumberland, is a high 
bluff, formed by the channel cutting its way through a range 
of hills that partially encircles the city on the west and north ; 
and upon the left bank of the river at this point, the rebels 
had commenced an extensive earth-work for the defense of 
Nashville, naming it Fort Zollicoffer. Colonel Ammen, who 
went on shore to examine it, found many cannon, great piles 
of shot and shell, and immense quantities of railroad iron ; 
but not a soul was in sight, and the four large guns that stared 



FEOM CAMP WICKI.IFFE TO NASHVILLE. 203 

grimly at the fleet as it passed below, were silent as the grave. 
Hundreds of eager eyes from the decks of the Diana were 
straining to catch the first glimpse of the distant city, when, 
as the boat emerged from behind a screen of woodland, they 
saw, away off to the right, across a bend in the river, the capi- 
tol dome and the smoke and spires of Nashville. White flags 
we;re growing more and more numerous along the shore, but 
no sign of the Stars and Stripes was visible anywhere, no flag 
floated over the State House, and by these tokens the troops 
knew that they were first at the rebel capital.* Impatient 
at the slow motion of the gunboat. General Nelson ordered 
the Diana to steam past it, and make for Nashville with all 
speed, having some time before promised the Sixth Ohio 
the honor of landing first, and hoisting its colors over the 
capitol building. It was just nine o'clock when the Diana 

*The Fourth Ohio Cavah-y, Colonel John Kennett'a gallant regiment, 
which formed the advance of the forces marching overland from Bowling 
Green, reached Edgefield Junction on the 23d, and on the 24th a detach- 
ment of it, under Major Rodgers, occupied Edgefield, on the right bank 
of the Cumberland, opposite Nashville. Some communication was had 
■with Mayor Cheatham on the same afternoon, resulting in the appointment 
of the hour of 11 A. M., on the 25th, for a formal interview with General 
Buell, and the surrender of the city. The interview took place as agreed 
upon, but Nelson's division had then been in actual possession of Nash- 
ville for two hours. These facts do not justify the statement in '' The 
American Conflict," that " Mayor Cheatham surrendered the city to Colo- 
nel Kennett on his arrival, which was before that of General Nelson's 
command." It is true, too, that on the 2-tth a few adventurous cavalry- 
men crossed the river in a dug-out, and remained for several minutes 
within the corporate limits of Nashville, but this no more controverts 
the statement that the Fourth Division was the first body of National 
troops in that city, than the fact that one or two colonels had reconnoi- 
tering parties out on the morning of Shiloh can be held to disprove the 
overwhelming evidences of a surprise on that occasion. For one whose 



204 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

touched the wharf, where a gaping crowd had assembled to see 
the troops land ; Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson, the color-bear- 
ers and guard, and Sergeant-Major Gee instantly sprang on 
shore, followed in rapid succession by the sev^eral companies, 
who had been ready formed for an hour previous, and in less 
than five minutes the regiment was in line. It was quickly 
broken into column by platoons. General Nelson took his place 
at the head, and, to the inspiriting strains of "Dixie" from 
the drums and fifes of its field music, the Sixth Ohio marched 
through the streets of Nashville to Caj^itol Hill, where it 
stacked arms in front of the State House. The doors of the 
building were all locked, but Major Christoplier was not long 
in finding the janitor, and compelling him to deliver the keys, 
which he did with a most ill grace, and a few moments afterward 
both flags of the Sixth Ohio were flung to the breeze from the 

figures and dates are generally so reliable, Greeley is, singularly inaccu- 
rate in his account of the occupation of Nashville, as the following ex- 
tract further witnesses: "From Clarksville, Lieutenant Bryant, of the 
Cairo, followed by seven transports, conveying the brigade of General Nel- 
son, moved up the river to Nashville, where they arrived on the twenty- 
fourth" etc. As painstaking and usually discriminating a writer also as 
Mr. Swinton is, has made the mistake (in his "Twelve Decisive Battles 
of the War") of specifying the 2od of February as the date of the occu- 
pation of Nashville. 

General Mitchel, who had made a forced march from Bowling Green, 
felt that he had fairly earned the honor of taking possession of Nashville, 
and manifested considerable pique to find the coveted laurels snatched by 
another hand. The following anecdote, illustrative of this subject, is 
given in a private letter: " When General Mitchel met Nelson in Nash- 
ville, he said to him, 'In my opinion, it was very wrong to march a single 
regiment into a city you knew nothing about, especially when you had no 
information whatever as to the disposition of the troops toward you.' ' I 
know my business, sir,' was the curt reply ; ' I took a regiment with me 
that I could depend upon, one worth /our of some regiments ! ' " 



FEOM CAMP WICKLIFFE TO NASHVILLE. 205 

dome of the capitol, amid a storm of cheers from the trooj^s 
below. It was a proud day for the Sixth Ohio. The rebel 
cavalry had left the city as the head of Nelson's division en- 
tered it, and small squads of them were still skulking about 
the suburbs, watching their opportunity for more of such acts 
of deviltry as had made them the dread of Nashville for a 
week past. One of their officers, partially disguised, re- 
mained long enough, in fact, to witness the landing of the 
first regiment. 

Not long after the Sixth Ohio reached the capitol, an elderly 
gentleman approached Lieutenant- Colonel Anderson, and in- 
troducing himself as one of the uncorrupted Unionists of Nash- 
ville, William Driver by name, asked to have a squad of men 
sent to his house, to assist in bringing from thence an Ameri- 
can flag that he had kept secreted, and which he now asked 
the privilege of raising over the State House. Lieutenant 
Thatcher, with privates Young, Siegel, and Overend, of Com- 
pany F, were directed to accompany him. He conducted the 
party to a plain- looking house in South Nashville, and rushing 
up stairs, the next moment re-appeared with a bed-quilt, in 
which, he said, "Old Glory" had been hidden for many 
months. It was quickly ripped open, private Young threw 
the flag over his arm, and the squad hastened back to the 
capitol, where with his own hands the old patriot hoisted his 
treasure, the troops below again cheering wildly. 

Captain Driver was born in Salem, Massachusetts, and fol- 
lowed the sea for many years, removing to Nashville in 1837. 
For a quarter of a century he cherished ''Old Glory" with 
religious veneration, attaching to it a peculiar value from the 
fact that it was originally presented him by a number of ladies, 
for the chivalrous rescue of some imperiled voyagers on the 



206 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

ocean. " The first time I hoisted it/' writes Captain Driver 
in a private letter, " it was done up (in accordance with an 
ancient custom in Catholic countries) in the form of a triangle, 
and consecrated to ' God the Father, God the Son, and "God 
the Holy Ghost,' with the modern addition of ' the Union, 
Liberty, and Law.' It was a beautiful banner to look upon, 
and I then solemnly swore it should never be disgraced by the 
hands of my country's enemies. I have faithfully kept my 
vow. That flag was always aired on AVashington's birthday 
and the Fourth of July, on those occasions being frequently 
the only one displayed in that part of Nashville upon a private 
dwelling. In the campaign of 1860, with ' Bells on its luff,' 
it rang out for ' the Union, the Constitution, and the enforce- 
ment of the Laws.' During that campaign, and as early as 
the month of October, it was no uncommon thing for the 
medical students at this place (and especially those from Mis- 
sissippi and South Carolina) to shoot their pistols through the 
flag as it hung over my door, at the same time remarking, 
' D — n that thing ; we will tread it in the dust.' I used to 
answer, ' Try it, if you dare ! ' but they never attempted to 
remove it. The first Union speech made in Tennessee, after 
the question of secession had been forced on our attention, was 
on the evening of January 1, 1861, in the Cumberland Church, 
South Nashville. At that meeting 'Old Glory' was greeted 
with cheer upon cheer. Then our struggle began in earnest. 
Gloriously the working-men, the masses, toiled against slave- 
holders and the aristocracy of all grades, and in February we 
carried the State by about 70,000 majority for the Union. 
The hearts of many leaped for joy at this result, but I saw 
that the end was not yet. The announcement of Mr. Lincoln's 
call for 75,000 men burst like a thunderbolt upon us, and 
our city — then purposely filled with gamblers, blacklegs, and 



FEOM CAMP WICKLIFFE TO NASHVILLE. 207 

Breckinridge politicians — was shaken as with a hurricane. 
Rebel flags popped out here and there from the gambling 
hells on Cedar Street, and on one or two of the printing of- 
fices, that of the Gazette, in particular. That day's sun was 
the last that shone on ' Old Glory,' until the advent of Nel- 
son's division in Nashville. The flag was demanded several 
times, but I refused to give it up, and, determined not to be 
outwitted by any set of rebels that lived, got the Misses Bailey 
(still residing in Nashville) to make it up into a comfortable, 
leaving a lock of cotton sticking out here and there, through 
some rent in the cover. We had been ordered to 'leave the 
State within forty days, or be dealt with as prisoners of w^ar.' 
I had not a dollar to my name — (starvation rather than trea- 
son) — and in this extremity I called on Hon. John Trimble, 
who kindly loaned me thirty dollars ; it being my fixed pur- 
pose to reach the North at once, and embark on a gunboat, 
thence once more to shake my old flag out in the face of my 
country's enemies. I strapped the flag to my trunk, filled the 
false bottom of the latter with papers and memorandums, 
which I thought might prove valuable to the government, and 
applied to the 'Committee on Passes' for a permit to visit 
Russellville, Kentucky, to see a little child, Ruth, who was 
there unwell. They refused the pass, delaring that they could 
not trust me ; "I was ' a spy and a dangerous citizen.' I gave 
the gentlemen my opinion of them in strong and bitter lan- 
guage, more than half-expecting to be arrested at once; but I 
was well armed, and had made up my mind to die like a wolf 
at bay, if attacked. However, I was permitted to return 
home unmolested. Since then I have had full satisfaction 
upon the rebels and their cause, dealing blows where they 
were neither feared nor expected. After the fall of. Fort Don- 
elson, a Mrs. Ford told some Texas Rangers that the flag was 



208 THE STOEY OF A KEGIMENT. 

still in my house. They swore they would have it or burn 
me out, but, by close watching and the aid of some friends, 
they were fooled and foiled; and, at last, I carried out my 
oft-repeated threat of hoisting ' Old Glory ' over this fallen, 
rebellious city. That was, indeed, a glorious hour, never to be 
blotted from my memory, save by the hand of Death. Its 
recollection cheers me even now." 

The flag with whose history so many interesting associations 
were connected, was presented to the Sixth Ohio, by which it 
was regarded as a most precious souvenir. It passed safely 
through all the campaigns of the regiment, until October, 1863, 
when Fred. Schnell's mules discovered it one night, where it 
was stowed away in the head-quarters' wagon, and before 
morning had eaten " Old Glory " up, leaving only a few shreds 
to tell the sacrilegious tale. The whole regiment, and espe- 
cially Colonel Anderson, felt that the loss was irreparable. 



CAMP ANDREW JACKSON. 2(^9 



CHAPTER XVI. 

CAMP ANDREW JACKSON. 

(FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 16, 1862.) 

IN the last chapter we left the Sixth Ohio at the State 
House, where it remained until late in the afternoon, the 
men roaming almost at pleasure through the building, aud 
gathering many interesting relics to send home ; lounging in 
the sunshine, in positions sheltered from the wind; heating 
their cups of coffee on the embers that were still smouldering 
almost close to the capitol steps, where an old tool-house, full 
of damaged arms, had that morning been fired by the Texan 
Rangers; or talking with the citizens whom curiosity or loy- 
alty had drawn to the spot. From their visitors the troops 
obtained graphic accounts of the events which had transpired 
in Nashville during the preceding ten days. The panic that 
followed the fall of Fort Donelson ; the hegira of the State 
officials ; the flight and ludicrous terror of fashionable secessia, 
male and female; the thousand rumors of the coming of the 
" Yankees," while, as yet, not a blue-coat was nearer than 
Bowling Green and Clarksville ; the pillage of the rebel com- 
missariat by the mob; the destruction of the railroad and 
suspension bridges over the Cumberland ; the wholesale con- 
flagration of steamboats at the wharf; the passage of John- 
ston's Bowling Green forces through the city, coincident with 
14 



210 I THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

the firrival of Pillow and Floyd, with such remnants of their 
commands as had escaped Grant's cul de sac at Donelson ; the 
excesses of the Texan Rangers ; the exertions of the rebel 
rear-guard in removing what it could of the immense quanti- 
ties of stores that had been accumulated at Nashville — these, 
and other incidents of the evacuation, which now have a per- 
manent place in history, were described over and over again. 
Yet the Union troops in Nashville heard few words of gen- 
uine welcome that day, and all felt that they were in the 
midst of enemies. 

]\Ieanwhile, the remainder of Nelson's division was disem- 
barking, and Generals Buell and Mitchel had made their 
appearance. The Sixth Ohio was finally ordered to move 
about two miles out, on .the Murfreesboro' turnpike, where the 
division was to establish its camp. It arrived there just at 
dark, stacked arms, and was preparing for the night's bivouac, 
when the near and sudden crash of musketry, followed by a 
deafening clatter of horses' hoofs, caused every man to rush 
for his rifle. Scarcely had the regiment formed, amid some 
confusion that was inevitable in the darkness, before a body 
of horsemen swept by, which was recognized at once as the 
German cavalry company that had been sent forward to picket 
the turnpike. Captain Klein, their commander, was in hot pur- 
suit, shouting the order to " halt," at the top of his voice, first in 
English, and then in German, but without effect, unless to 
quicken their speed, if such a thing were possible. A party of 
rebel cavalry had fired into them from the ambush of some 
cedars in front of a farm-house, situated about one-fourth of a 
mile in advance of the position occupied by the Sixth Ohio. 
Entirely ignorant as to what force of the enemy might be near, 
as well as of the surrounding locality, Lieutenant-Colonel 
Anderson immediately advanced a line of skirmishers, and 



THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 211 

made other dispositions to resist an attack ; but there was no 
further disturbance. The regiment slept on its arms, and next 
day was highly complimented by General Nelson for the stead- 
fastness it had shown. 

During its stay of nearly three weeks at Camp Andrew 
Jackson — the name that General Nelson gave to his encamp- 
ment — the Fourth Division received imjiortant accessions, 
which, with other changes, made its organization as follows : 

Teuth Brigade, Colonel Ammen, composed of the Sixth and 
Twenty-fourth Ohio, and Thirty-sixth Indiana. 

Nineteenth Brigade, Colonel Hazen, embracing the Forty- 
first Ohio, Sixth Kentucky, and Ninth Indiana. 

Twenty-second Brigade, comprising the First, Second, and 
Twentieth Kentucky, under command of Colonel Saunders D. 
Bruce, of the regiment last named. 

Second Indiana Cavalry, then commanded by Lieutenant- 
Colonel Edwin L. McCook. 

Battery D, First Regiment Ohio Artillery, Captain A. T. 
Konkle, and two Indiana batteries, under command of Cap- 
tains Coxe and Harris. 

Of the newly-joined regiments, the Ninth Indiana had come 
directly from West Virginia and was the successor, in the 
three years' organization, of Milroy's bold skirmishers at 
Laurel Hill ; while the First and Second Kentucky, schooled 
to campaigning by a five months' experience in the Kanawha 
Valley, and recent graduates from General Thomas J. Wood's 
division, contained hundreds of Cincinnatians, who could 
share with the Sixth Ohio in many a reminiscence of Sumter 
times, and had intimate friends among its members. 

The Sixth Ohio did not find a home in the Tenth Brigade 
without undergoing certain vicissitudes, traceable to the anom- 
alous position in which il had been placed by General Nelson's 



212 CAMP ANDEEW JACKSON. 

retaining it, contrary to its original disposition by the Depart- 
ment commander. On the 21st of February, it was assigned 
to the Nineteenth Brigade; on the 7th of March to the 
Tenth Brigade ; on the 10th, by order of General Buell, 
again to the Twenty -second Brigade; and on the 16th, back 
to the Tenth Brigade, which, by the detail of the Fifty-first 
Ohio for provost duty at Nashville, had been left with but 
two regiments. Although not at first intended as such, the 
last transfer proved to be permanent. The brigade to which 
the Sixth Ohio had thus been attached, continued essentially 
the same through successive campaigns, down to the reorgani- 
zation of the Army of the Cumberland, in October, 1863 — a 
period of nineteen eventful months, big with the fate of armies 
and the destiny of the nation. The three regiments now asr 
sociated in it, who were so soon to receive a common baptism 
in Shiloh's flood of fire, became warmly attached to each other, 
and until their last surviving members shall bivouac on the 
banks of Time no longer, the recollection of those by-gone 
days will remain a bond of friendship, strong as a threefold 
cord that can not be broken. 

The Twenty-fourth Ohio was composed of, one company 
from each of the following counties in the State whose name 
it bore, viz.: Huron, Muskingum, Erie, Franklin, Adams, 
Montgomery, Trtimbull, Cuyahoga, Highland, and Coshocton.* 
These companies were all raised under President Lincoln's 
first call for troops; but being in excess, not only of Ohio's 
assigned quota of thirteen regiments, but also of the ten thou- 
sand additional volunteers which the Legislature decided should 
be retained in the service of the State, to defend it against 

* This statement diflPers somewhat from the sketch of the Twenty-fourth 
Regiment given in " Ohio in the War," but it is based on the authority 
of the official records on file at the Adjutant-General's Office, at Columbus. 



CAMP ANDREW JACKSON. 213 

possible invasion, they remained for some weeks unassigned, 
for want of authority from Washington to receive them. They 
were kept, however, as part of a reserve force of four thousand 
men at Camp Chase, under command of their respective cap- 
tains, drilling and preparing to meet the next call,* and, having 
been at length organized into a regiment, left Columbus for 
Western Virginia, July 26, ISGl.f On the 14th of August, 
the Twenty-fourth Ohio reached Cheat Mountain Summit, 
where it remained for three months,, in that time performing 
some arduous service and undergoing great exposure, but with- 
out suiFering any material reduction of its numerical strength. 
It bore a prominent part in the fighting on the 12th of Septem- 
ber, when the enemy was repulsed, although he was in vastly 
superior numbers and had entirely surrounded the Summit, 
and it participated also in the engagement at Greenbrier, Oc- 
tober 3d. Its transfer to Kentucky and sojourn at Camp Wick- 
liife have already been referred to in their appropriate connec- 
tions. Its field officers, while at Camp Andrew Jackson, were 
as follows : Colonel, Jacob Ammen ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Fred- 
erick C. Jones ; Major, Albei-t S. Hall. 

The Thirty -sixth Indiana was the junior regiment of the 
brigade. It was recruited in the fifth congressional district 
of its native State, rendezvousing at Richmond, where it was 
mustered into the United States service for three years, on the 
16th of September, 1861. It left the State with an aggregate 
strength of one thousand and forty-seven, and, reporting at 
Louisville on the 23d of October, a few days later was ordered 
to New Haven, where it remained, as we have seen, until in- 
corporated with the Tenth Brigade, in the division of General 

* Report of Adjutant-General Buckingham for 1861. 
f The date (June 25, 1861) given in several reports of the Adjutant- 
General of Ohio is erroneous. 



214 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

Nelson. Its field officers, at the period under consideration, 
were as follows : Colonel, William Grose ; Lieutenant-Colonel, 
Oliver H. P. Carey; Major, Thomas W. Bennett.* 

The brigade commander, Colonel Jacob Ammen, was born 
of Swiss descent, in Botetourt County, Virginia, January 7, 
1808, about ten years after which date his parents removed to 
Brown County, Ohio. Entering the United States military 
academy at the age of nineteen, he graduated in 1831, and 
was assigned to the First Regiment United States Artillery, 
with the customary rank of Brevet Second Lieutenant. After 
serving about three years with his regiment, and three more 
as assistant instructor at West Point, he resigned his commis- 
sion of First Lieutenant of Artillery, and returned to civil 
life, in which he remained till the outbreak of the rebellion, 
actively engaged in ■ civil engineering, or as professor of math- 
ematics and experimental and natural philosophy in various 
educational institutions. On the 17th of April, 1861, then 
holding the jjosition of Superintendent of Public Schools of 
Ripley, Brown County, Ohio, he volunteered in the com- 
pany of " Ripley Guards," was next day elected captain, and 
on the 24th of April reported his company at Camp Jackson, 
Columbus. May 2, he was elected lieutenant-colonel of the 
Twelfth Ohio (three-months' term), with which he served 
until the 22d of June, when he was appointed colonel of the 
Twenty-fourth Ohio. As soon as his regiment could be made 
ready for the field, he led it to Western Virginia, remaining 
in personal command of it throughout its service there, and 
afterward, until the 30th of November, when, at Louisville, he 

*This outline of the organization and early services of the Thirty-sixth 
Indiana is extracted from the second volume of '• Indiana's Roll of Honor," 
which justly characterizes it as one of the best regiments of Indiana vol- 
unteers. 



CAMP ANDREW JACKSON. 215 

was assigned to the command of the Tenth Brigade. General 
Nelson, conscious of his o^vn deficiencies as a master of the art 
of war as applied on land, was quick to perceive and appreciate 
the thoroughness which pervaded the character of his subordi- 
nate, and especially his attainments as a trained soldier ; and 
what General Thomas, the " Nestor of the Army of the Cum- 
berland," afterward became to General Rosecrans — a confidant 
and counselor in every important movement — Colonel Ammen 
was to General Nelson.* 

The brigade staff consisted of three officers, as follows : Lieu- 
tenant Robert F. Wheeler, Twenty-fourth Ohio, acting as- 
sistant adjutant-general and aid-de-camp; Lieutenant Phil. 
F. "Wiggins, Thirty -sixth Indiana, quartermaster; and Dr. J. 
Taylor Bradford, surgeon. 

Few events of noteworthy importance befell the Fourth Di- 
vision while at Camp Andrew Jackson. Rebel cavalry, and 
particularly the command of Captain John H. Morgan, infested 
every turnpike leading out from Nashville, harassing the pick- 
ets, attacking forage trains, capturing stragglers, and main- 
taining regular communication with the secession element in 
Nashville, which was bitter, strong, and defiant ; but Mitchel's 
division, occujjying the advanced encampment on the Mur- 
.freesboro' road, was the principal sufferer. On the night of the 

*To his immediate friends General Nelson was accustomed to speak, 
with characteristic frankness, of his obligations to General Ammen's supe- 
rior skiU and experience in military matters. Rev. Dr. Campbell has left 
on record the following, which is quite in point: "On the writer's first 
introduction to General Nelson, he inquired of the latter how General 
Ammen, a former professional associate, was getting along. He replied : 
'General Ammen, sir, is one of the most distinguished men in the serv- 
ice. I owe to him almost every thing I know of military science. I 
would give the world, sii", if I had his military knowledge.' " 



216 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

28th. of February, Captain Jesse K. AVilson, a patriotic, brave, 
and intelligent officer of the Fourth Ohio Cavalry, was shot 
down in the dark, while upon outpost duty, and instantly 
killed. He was well known at home for his public spirit and 
personal worth, and having long been a resident of Carthage, 
near Cincinnati, had many friends in the Sixth Ohio. On the 
1st of March, Major Christopher, with four companies of the 
Sixth Ohio, was dispatched to the vicinity of Brentwood Sta- 
tion, on the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, to bring in a 
locomotive and train of cars which the rebels had thei-e aban- 
doned. The men went prepared for a fight, but accomplished 
their object without molestation. On the 8th, the guerrilla 
leader. Captain Morgan, led a body of his men around the 
Union picket lines, and surprised a wagon train pa&sing from 
General Mitchel's main camp to that of the Fourth Ohio Cav- 
alry, which was five miles in advance of the rest of the divis- 
ion. The rebels captured nearly sixty men, cut the teams loose, 
set fire to the wagons, and, compelling the teamsters to mount 
their horses, rode rapidly back toward Murfreesboro'. General 
Mitchel fortunately reached the scene a few minutes later, and 
ordered Kennett's cavalry in immediate pursuit, which th6y 
pressed with such vigor as to recapture the men and horses, and 
bring in several prisoners besides. In the rescued party, was 
private Henry Kahle, of Company B, Sixth Ohio, who had 
been captured with the train, while on his way to visit a friend 
in the Fourth Ohio Cavalry. 

On the 5th of March, the division first beheld a military 
execution. Private Michael Council, of Company E, Twenty- 
fourth Ohio, in accordance with the sentence of a court-mar- 
tial, was " shot to death with musketry," in the presence of five 
thousand troops from Nelson's and Crittenden's divisions, " for 
ofiering violence to his superior officer," Corporal Alonzo Po- 



CAMP ANDREW JACKSON. 217 

cock, of Company K, of the same regiment. The man had 
been a good soldier, but one night, while intoxicated, fired five 
pistol shots at the corporal of the guard, who was endeavoring 
to arrest him. None of the shots took effect; yet for this of- 
fense, committed nearly two months before, he suffered the 
extreme penalty of military law. He met his fate with un- 
shaken firmness. The spectacle was a solemn one, and to 
none did it bring more sadness than to Colonel Ammen and 
General Nelson. The latter delayed the execution till the last 
moment allowed by the terms of the sentence, in hope that 
a reprieve might yet be granted by the department com- 
mander. He even dispatched an aid-de-camp toward Nash- 
ville to look for the expected messenger, but none came, and 
the law had its course. 

On the 12th, the Fourth Division was ordered out upon 
" a reconnoissance," in the lightest possible marching order, as 
if for a rapid movement against some body of the enemy. 
The expedition proved to be nothing of the kind, however ; 
it was simply a visit to the Hermitage, once the home and still 
the burial-place of Andrew Jackson, of whose birth this day 
was the ninety-fifth anniversary. The Hermitage is situated 
near the Lebanon turnpike, twelve miles from Nashville, but 
is remarkable for nothing, save the associations which cling to 
its time-browned walls. General Nelson, who held the char- 
acter of Jackson in great reverence, was in his best humor 
upon this excursion, always excepting such occasions as prom- 
ised well for a fight. The day was a beautiful one of early 
spring, every thing was admirably managed, and the men 
reached camp at twilight, well pleased with the trip, though 
weary, for they had marched not less than twenty-three miles. 

The health of the Sixth Ohio continued most excellent. 
"While the regiment was at Camp Andrew Jackson, a letter 



218 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

was received from Mr. Charles R. Fosdick, of the Cincinnati 
Branch of the United States Sanitary Commission, offering 
the aid of that organization in the care of the sick. In his 
reply, Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson mentioned the fact that 
the regimental hospital contained only four patients. One of 
these, William Taaffe, of Company C, died on the 15th of 
March, from typhoid fever, being the first death in the regi- 
ment from disease since the preceding October. At the break- 
ing up of Camp Wickliffe, the Sixth Ohio had sent a total of 
twenty-three men to convalescent barracks, at Nelson's Fur- 
nace, and when the army moved from jSTashville toward West 
Tennessee, Dr. Stephens found but eight men in the whole reg- 
iment unable to march. 

On the 27th of February, Quartermaster Shoemaker was 
thrown from his horse, at which time he received a painful 
wound in the instep of the right foot, from the accidental dis- 
charge of his pistol. He obtained a leave of absence, and was 
unable to rejoin the command for more than two months. Lieu- 
tenant Peck discharged the duties of the quartermaster's de- 
partment during five weeks of this interval, or until the 3d of 
April, at which date, being detailed as acting commissary of 
subsistence for the division, he was replaced by Lieutenant Mor- 
gan. Captain Russell was detailed to take command of the 
transport Autocrat, immediately upon the arrival of the division 
at Nashville, and was not relieved until the army was on the eve 
of setting out for Savanna. Dr. Ames had been left at Camp 
Wickliffe, in charge of the sick of the Fourth Division, among 
whom were Captains Tatem and Tinker and Lieutenant Boy- 
Ian. The latter resigned on the 15th of February. The res- 
ignation of Lieutenant Parker was accepted about the same 
time, but he remained on duty with the regiment until the 



CAMP ANDREW JACKSON. 219 

11th of March. He had been out of the army but a short 
time when he received the appointment of Master's Mate, in 
the naval service, and soon afterward joined the gunboat Es- 
sex, one of the first and most famous iron-clads that cruised 
the Western waters. By successive promotions, he rose to the 
command of that vessel, with the rank of Volunteer Lieuten- 
-ant Commanding, and for several months prior to his muster- 
out, at the close of the war, had charge of the district on the 
Mississippi from Cairo to Memphis. AVhen the regiment 
started from Nashville, on the 17th of March, Captain Clai*ke 
and Lieutenant Ehrman were left in that city upon duty at 
the convalescent barracks. The latter was soon afterward 
appointed Commissary of Subsistence of Volunteers, and or- 
dered to Evansville, Indiana, where he remained until after 
the war, and then went into business there. Captain Brutton 
was in Cincinnati, but rejoined the regiment on the 25th of 
March, after a long and severe illness. Captain Bense and 
Lieutenants Gilman and Schieffer were still in durance vile 
in a rebel prison. Lieutenants Royse and Morris were absent 
on recruiting service, and Lieutenants Anderson, Southgate, 
and INIontagnier on staff duty, the latter being with General 
Hascall, in Wood's division. Lieutenant Sheridan was per- 
manently detached on signal duty. 

Two field, two staff, and fifteen line officers thus remained 
on duty with the regiment, when it left Nashville for Savanna 
(including Captain Brutton, who joined it between Nashville 
and Columbia), as follows: Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson and 
Major Christopher; Adjutant Heron and Surgeon Stephens; 
Captains Westcott, Andrews, Wilmington, Erwin, Brutton, 
and Russell; First Lieutenants McAlpin, Russell, Donovan, 
Thatcher, Getty, Morgan, and Peck ; and Second Lieutenants 
West and Gettier. When the regiment moved to the sound of 



220 ■ THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

the guns at Sbiloh, two other officers were with it, namely, Sec- 
ond Lieutenant Harry Gee, promoted from sergeant-major, on 
the 30th of March, and assigned to Company D; and Second 
Lieutenant Harry C. Choate, promoted from corporal in Com- 
pany I, and on the 5th of April assigned to Company G. 
First Lieutenant Albert G. Williams, of Company F, was ap- 
pointed sergeant-major, vice Gee. 

In this connection we may note an appointment, before omit- 
ted — that of private Charles E. Lewis, of Company K, to 
hospital steward, which was made in December, 186L 



THE MARCH TO SAVANNA. 221 



CHAPTER XVII. 

THE MARCH TO SAVANNA. 

(MARCH 17-APRIL 5, 1862.) 

FOR a week after the arrival of Nelson's division — the 
advance of Buell's army — troops continued to pour into 
Nashville ; in fact, the stream of reenforcements had not en- 
tirely ceased by the middle of March. General Buell was not 
long in discovering that his antagonist, Johnston — after a 
short halt at Murfreesboro', where he had combined the fugi- 
tives from Fort Donelson, and the earlier fugitives from Mill 
Spring, with Hardee's corps from Bowling Green — had with- 
drawn from his front and was falling back to the line of the 
Tennessee River. The Army of the Ohio, which was in splen- 
did condition, as well as strong in numbers, could be relied 
upon for most soldierly work in marching after the enemy. 
But obvious and weighty considerations pointed to another 
route as the true one by which to make the next grand ad- 
vance into the Southern Confederacy. That route was the 
Tennessee River, which Commodore Foote's gunboats had al- 
ready ascended as far as Florence, Alabama — less than the 
length of one State from the Gulf of Mexico — which afforded 
every facility for seizing upon the Memphis and Charleston 
Railroad, and thus severing the great artery whose pulsations 
brought the Mississippi Valley into direct connection with 



222 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

Richmond, the life-center of the rebellion, and by which an army 
could be conveyed almost to the back door of Memphis, with 
the certainty of securing control of the Mississijjpi for hun- 
dreds of miles from Cairo southward. The Tennessee, how- 
ever, for an indefinite distance from its mouth, lay within the 
neighboring Department of the Missouri, commanded by Ma- 
jor-General Halleck, whose head-quarters were at St. Louis. 
To that officer General Buell promptly telegraphed his views, 
and tendered his army for a cooperative movement in the di- 
rection proposed.* 

General Halleck, however, had already projected an expedi- 
tion up the Tennessee, for the purpose of destroying the rail- 
road connections at Corinth, Jackson, and Humboldt, but, more 
especially, the bridge by which the Memphis and Charleston 
Railroad crosses Big Bear Creek, just within the western 
boundary of Alabama. These objects, or such of them as 
might be practicable, having been accomplished, the expedition 
was directed to return to Danville — twenty odd miles above 
Fort Henry — and move on Paris, a little railroad town, one 
day's march westward, possessing, in reality, no strategic im- 
portance whatever. Following these instructions, General 
Grant, then commanding a district of Halleck's department, 

*As far as possible, the ■writer has purposely avoided encumbering this 
chapter with an elaborate array of foot-notes, citing authorities, etc., but de- 
sires here to say that every statement which it contains respecting the pre- 
liminary movements of the Armies of the Ohio and Tennessee, in the Shiloh 
campaign, (with perhaps two or three unimportant exceptions,) may be veri- 
fied, by all who choose to take the pains, by reference either to General 
Adam Badeau's Life of Grant, or to the official dispatches quoted by 
General Buell, in his printed letters of January 19, 1865, and April 3, 
1866. The reader will find the text of all the extracts from Grant's dis- 
patches which are given verhatim, in Badeau's work. 



THE MARCH TO SAVANNA. 223 

proceeded to organize an expeditionary column with his accus- 
tomed energy, and had nearly completed his preparations, 
when, on the 5th of March, he was ordered to transfer the 
command of the troops to General Charles F. Smith, and to 
remain in person at Fort Henry. Owing to the flooded con- 
dition of the country and other minor causes. General Smitl^ 
found it impossible at that time to accomplish the objects for 
which the movement had been set on foot. Meantime, the 
consultations of Halleck and Buell had resulted in a kind of 
general understanding that the Army of the Ohio should be 
united with that of the Tennessee, for an advance u^ion the 
enemy's new line of defense, and the place of rendezvous 
agreed upon for the junction of the two commands was Sa- 
vanna, a village on the east bank of the Tennessee River, two 
hundred and ten miles above its mouth. Corinth is about thirty 
miles south-west of Savanna — as a bird would fly — situated at 
the crossing of the Mempliis and Charleston, and the Mobile and 
Ohio Railroads. It was a railroad center, second in strategic im- 
portance to none within the limits of the Confederacy — a vital 
point in the new defensive line which the enemy had adopted at 
the West. Anxious to seize it as soon as possible, General 
Smith selected, as the point from which it could most readily 
be approached, its principal freighting place upon the river, 
Pittsburg Landing, which is ten miles above Savanna, by the 
windings of the Tennessee, and upon the other side of the 
river. There a portion of the troops were disembarked, and 
there General Grant found them, when, having been relieved 
from his unmerited disgrace, he reached Savanna, on the 17th 
of ]\Iarcli, and re-assumed active command. 

Four days earlier, the Departments of Kansas and the Ohio 
had been added to the jurisdiction of General Halleck, whose 
immense department — now designated that of the Mississippi — 



224 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

was made to embrace the whole theater of operations " west of 
a north and south line drawn indefinitely through Knoxville, 
Tennessee." On the 16tli of March, Halleck, who had thus 
become generalissimo of the Western armies, learned that 
Buell had put his army in motion, and hastened to notify 
Grant : " General Buell is marching in this direction." This 
was the day preceding Grant's arrival at Savanna, by which 
time he was fully advised of the enlarged plan of operations, 
which had matured his expeditionary movement into the ini- 
tiative of a grand offensive campaign. The enemy was known to 
be concentrating at Corinth, as from the first it had been cer- 
tain he would do, and Halleck was continually cautioning his 
subordinate against making any demonstration which could lead 
to a general engagement, until heavily reenforced. Nevertheless, 
General Grant decided to establish his entire army in the much 
exposed encampment at Pittsburg Landing. In taking this step, 
he was probably carrying out the tacit understanding of most, 
or perhaps all, of his division commanders, but it was a most 
unmilitary proceeding; and the reckless self-confidence with 
which General Grant entered upon a campaign which he knew 
must prove a defensive one for at least a fortnight longer, is de- 
monstrated by the fact that he never visited Pittsburg Landing 
until after he had concentrated his whole army there,* within 
one day's march of the rapidly accumulating forces of the 
enemy at Corinth. He did not even follow them there, except 

*"0n the 13th of March, Grant was relieved from his disgrace; and 
on the 17th, he removed his head-quarters [from Fort Henry] to Savanna, 
and wrote to Sherman [vpho was at Pittsburg Landing] from that place. 

Within an hour after his arrival, Grant issued orders for the 

concentration of the whole force, sending Smith's and McClernand's di- 
visions, as fast as boats could carry them, up to Pittsburg." — Badeaus 
Life of Grant. 



THE 31 ARCH TO SAVANNA. 225 

to make very transient visits, deeming his presence with the 
troops of less consequence than the slight advantages which 
his remaining at Savanna would afford for the disposition of 
rccnforcements and supplies. 

The brief but momentous campaign which culminated at 
Shiloh furnishes a most vulnerable point in the military 
record of both Grant and Sherman. The latter, as being un- 
questionably the ablest and best trained soldier on the ground, 
(after the disablement of General C. F. Smith,) was virtually 
intrusted with a supervisory control of the encampment at 
Pittsburg Landing during his chiefs absence at Savanna, and 
in his judgment and discretion General Grant had already ac- 
quired the habit of reposing the highest confidence. Together, 
Grant and Sherman must share the responsibility for those 
great errors that marked the conduct of affairs at Pittsburg, 
up to the very dawn of Shiloh, and which suffered the Army 
of the Tennessee to be brought to the verge of destruction ; and 
no uncandid criticism, no partial presentation of facts, no mat- 
ter by whomsoever made, can shift that grave responsibility, 
to the derogation of other commanders. The misstatements 
"which have been made to that end, would be more pardonable 
if there were nothing upon which to base the fame of Grant 
and Sherman, save the ruined reputation of their contempo- 
raries — than which nothing could be more untrue ; for the 
blunders of the Shiloh campaign, palpable as they were, have 
been atoned for many times over, by the later services of those 
great but severely-schooled soldiers. The spirit of disparage- 
ment of the Army of the Ohio, which pervades many of the 
current narratives of Shiloh, is therefore as unnecessary in 
every point of view as it is ungenerous and unfair. 

General Adam Badeau's " Military History of Ulysses S. 

Grant" undoubtedly makes the best presentation which is 
15 



226 THE STORY OF A EEGrMENT. 

possible on behalf of its illustrious subject. This it does in a 
chapter containing few absolute untruths, indeed, but abound- 
ing in passages in which facts and dates have been so collated 
and arranged as to produce an effect very nearly the equiva- 
lent of direct deception. The following extract illustrates this 
disingenuous method of writing official history : " Grant him- 
self remained at Savanna to superintend the organization of 
troops constantly arriving from Missouri, and because, from 
there, he could communicate more readily with Buell, whose 
deliberate movements had not yet brought him within sup- 
porting distance of the Army of the Tennessee." The dates 
to which these remarks have reference are given as the 17th 
of March and the two succeeding days. The facts are that 
Buell, necessarily waiting to complete the concentration of his 
army, did not start his advance division until the 16th, and 
on the 17th, when Grant decided to retain head-quarters at 
Savanna, the latter had only a few hours before received his 
first intimation that Buell was moving at all, from Nashville, 
one hundred and twenty-two miles away. AVhat use Grant made 
of his facilities for communicating with General Buell by tele- 
graph, during three whole days preceding the battle of Shiloh, 
we shall see presently. 

Having thus beheld the Army of the Tennessee encamped 
in fancied security at Pittsburg Landing, we shall be better 
prepared to understand the movements of that army which liar" 
just been ordered to join it, for an offensive canipaign some- 
where in West Tennessee, or Northern Mississippi and Ala- 
bama. 

On Sunday, March 16th, the Fourth Division received or- 
ders to prepare for a march, with tents, camp equipage, and 
seven days' rations, in the direction of Franklin, It moved at 



THE MARCH TO SAVANNA. 227 

7 A. M., next day, in the following orJcr : the Tenth Brigade 
in advance, which position it retained throughout the march ; 
the Twenty-second Brigade next, and the Nineteenth Brigade 
in the rear. Returning from Camp Andrew Jackson ahuost 
to Nashville, the troops struck across to the Franklin turnpike, 
and soon passed the deserted camping grounds of McCook, 
who, as senior division commander, had claimed the advance, 
and started early the day before. That night, after an easy 
march of thirteen miles, they bivouacked near the toll-gate, 
then kept by Mr. Bellew, twelve miles from Nashville. On 
the 18th, the Fourth Division marched nineteen miles, through 
Franklin, halting for the night near Spring Hill. The com- 
mand was now traversing the fertile and highly-cultivated 
cotton regions of INIiddle Tennessee, and "gangs of slaves were 
seen at work upon almost every plantation, or else clinging to 
the fences by the road-side, whence they watched the marching * 
column with wondering eyes and unmistakable delight, as long 
as it remained in view. 

The rebel cavalry, who had been left to watch the Army of 
the Ohio, were not in sufficient force to retard its progress, ex- 
cept by destroying the bridges along its line of march ; and 
even in this they had thus far been foiled by the rapid move- 
ments of the Union cavalry, pushed well forward in advance 
of the main column. But here General Nelson learned that 
McCook had been compelled to halt by the destruction of the 
bridges across Rutherford Creek and Duck River, which were 
respectively six and ten miles ahead. No serious detention 
had been caused at the former, but the Duck River bridge it 
would be impossible to replace for several days, and, as the 
river was greatly swollen by late rains, fording was out of 
the question. On the 19th, McCook moved up almost in 
eight of Columbia, and immediately began the construction of 



228 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMEXT. 

another bridge, in which, however, he made slower headway 
than he first anticipated; for his battalion of Mechanics and 
Engineers, even with the addition of a detail from Colonel 
Willich's Thirty -second Indiana, constituted a comparatively 
small and, as yet, but inexperienced force of workmen, while 
the difficulties of their undertaking daily grew more and more 
apparent. General Buell was still in Nashville. Crittenden 
was a few miles in the rear of Nelson, with Wood next, and 
then Thomas, bringing up the rear. Mitchel's division, 
which had moved out through INIurfreesboro' toward Shelby- 
ville and Huntsville, now formed an independent column. 

During the 19th, Nelson's division lay quietly resting in its 
camping place of the night before. On the 20th, it moved 
three miles, j^assing through Spring Hill, and again went into 
camp as near McCook as was consistent with the order of 
march. On the 22d, it changed camp three miles forward, to 
a piece of ridgeland near Carter's Station, and, while waiting 
there, completed the task of repairing the ford at Rutherford 
Creek. On the 26th, (Colonel Ammen having obtained per- 
mission to select a location more suitable for drill purposes,) 
the Tenth Brigade moved two miles further, to grounds where 
camp had previously been laid out Avith great care, and in 
which it was now pitched with beautiful regularity and order. 
The Sixth Ohio had the position nearest the road, and the 
regiment took it as a decided compliment when General Buell, 
riding by late in the day, inquired if it was not an encamp- 
ment of regulars. Next day, drilling began in Nelsonian 
earnest ; for the Duck River bridge was still unfinished, and 
likely to remain so for nearly a week longer. 

Throughout the march to the Tennessee River, Buell was 
in communication with General Grant by means of couriers, 
and with General Halleck by telegraph ; but neither of them 



THE MARCH TO SAVANNA. 220 

ever expressed the least misgiving as to the safety of Grant's 
position at Pittsburg Landing, or urged greater celerity of 
movement, in order to counterpoise the rapid concentration of 
the enemy, which was then actually taking place on Grant's 
front. On the 18th of March, Buell telegraphed Halleck : " I 
understand Grant is on the east side of the river : is it not so?" 
Halleck's reply did not state otherwise, leaving Buell to infer 
that his understanding was correct. Grant himself, in writing 
to Buell, on the 19th, gave no further explanation of the state 
of affairs than simply this : " There is every reason to suppose 
that the rebels have a large force at Corinth, and many at 
other points toward Decatur ; " but this Avas accompanied by 
no hint of any kind that he considered the Array of the Ten- 
nessee in present or even prospective danger. Even Badeau 
says that " Buell had no knowledge that Grant was in any ex- 
traordinary danger;" which was for the best of reasons — 
namely, that General Grant (from whom, either directly or 
through Halleck, Buell necessarily derived all his information 
touching the points in question) had no such knowledge up to 
the very hour that the roar of Shiloh broke upon his ear. 
Grant felt himself strong enough to attack without waiting for 
Buell, and on the 23d of March, wrote to General Smith from 
Savanna : " I am clearly of the opinion that the enemy are 
gathering strength at Corinth, quite as rapidly as we are here, 
and the sooner we attack, the easier will be the task of taking 
the place. If Ruggles is in conimand, it would assuredly be a 
good time to attack." Confessedly against his will, he was re- 
strained, however, by positive instructions, from undertaking 
any aggressive movement until Buell should arrive to cooperate 
with him. Hence, he was naturally desirous that the junction 
of the two armies should be brought about as speedily as pos- 
sible, but contented himself with informing Halleck, the com- 



^--</ 



230 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

nion superior of both himself and Buell, as follows : On the 
26th of March, " My scouts are just in with a letter from Gen- 
eral Buell. The three divisions coming this way are yet on the 
east side of Duck E,iver, detained by bridge building." On the 
27th, " I have no news yet of any portion of General Buell's 
command being this side of Columbia." And on the 31st, 
" Two soldiers from the head of McCook's command came in 
this evening. Some of this command crossed Duck River on 
the 29th, and established guards eight miles out that night." 
Grant was in error, as we shall see, in crediting McCook with 
the passage of Duck River on the 29th ; which, however, is a 
point of no consequence, except that his neglect to interrogate 
these men sufficiently to ascertain the real facts, betrays a lack 
of interest in the movements of the Army of the Ohio that 
could not have existed had he considered himself in need of 
its assistance. Another reason was superadded shortly, to 
make him anxious for Buell's appearance, in the necessity for 
his presence at Pittsburg Landing, arising from certain jeal- 
ousies among his senior division commanders, as he explained in 
a letter to Halleck, dated March 27th, as follows : " News hav- 
ing arrived of the promotion of General McClernand toi the 
rank of major-general, without the date of promotion of either 
him or General Smith being known, makes it necessary for me 
to move my head-quarters to Pittsburg. I will not go up, how- 
ever, until something further is heard from General Buell's 
command, and until full directions are given for their transfer 
to this place." 

Grant properly felt that these considerations, which were 
mainly of a personal character, did not constitute any ground 
of complaint concerning the delays which Buell had encoun- 
tered in moving a large army over a single road, and at an 
unfavorable season of the year, through a country where a 



THE MAECH TO SAYANXA. 231 

column of Union troops had never before penetrated ; but on 
the 31st of March he did write to McCook, a division com- 
mander, who, he erroneously supposed, still had the advance 
of Buell's army : " I have been looking for your column anx- 
iously for several days." This is the one solitary expression 
of any thing even approaching solicitude in regard to the move- 
ments of Buell's army, that Grant's voluminous dispatches of 
tliis period afford ; and, surely, it is abundantly accounted for 
by the circumstances we have detailed, upon the authority of 
his official biographer. 

On the 27th of March, General Nelson (and, as there is 
good reason to believe, General Buell also*) learned, for the 
first time, that Grant's army had been located upon the west 
bank of the Tennessee, the information being obtained from 
the verbal statements of couriers who had just arrived from 
Savanna. "With a prescience and breadth of mental vision 
which those who knew him best are accustomed to regard as 
one of his most remarkable traits, Nelson perceived the whole 
situation in an instant. He was then on the banks of Duck 
River, whither he had gone to see what progress was being 
made with the bridge. " By G — d ! " he exclaimed to an of- 
ficer who was with him, " we must cross that river at once, or 
Grant will be whipped ! " He rode directly to General Buell's 
head-quarters and asked permission to ford Duck River with 
the Fourth Division. Some conversation ensued, which was 
terminated by the promise, on General Buell's part, that if Nel- 

*In General Buell's letter to the United States Service Magazine, dated 
New York, January 19th, 1865, he says: "Savanna, on the opposite side 
of the river from the enemy, had been designated for the junction, and I 
supposed that the force I was to join was there, until within a few days 
of my arrival, when I casually learned otherwise ; and then I was told it 
was secure in the natural stren^t!;th of the position." 



232 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

son could get his men safely over, with all his artillery and 
baggage, he should have the advance thenceforward to the 
Tennessee. By this time it was late in the afternoon, 

Next morning General Buell issued orders to his division 
commanders for the separation from the rest of their troops of 
all who, upon examination, should be found unfit to coutinue 
the march, and prescribing proper measures for the care of 
these men when left behind. In the Fourth Division, the execu- 
tion of this order and the distribution of supplies, etc., consumed 
most of the day. Colonel Ammen succeeded in making the 
preliminary soundings and other arrangements for fording, with- 
out exciting the suspicion of McCook's bridge builders, and at 
dress parade the troops were edified by hearing read the fol- 
lowing : 

Head-quarters Fourth Division, ) 
Camp near Spring Hill, Tenn., 28th March, 1862. i 
[Circular.] 

Reveille will be sounded to-morrow, at 4 o'clock A. M. At 6 
A. M , the Tenth Brigade will move with one day's rations in 
haversacks, in the following order : First, the Twenty-fourth Ohio 
Regiment; second, the Sixth Ohio Regiment; third, the Thirty- 
sixth Indiana Regiment. The wagons will be carefully loaded with 
reference to fording Duck River — tents and other articles not liable 
to injury from water at the bottom, and ammunition at the top. 

On reaching the ford, the men will strip off their pantaloons, 
secure their cartridge-boxes about their necks, and load knapsacks 
on the wagons ; bayonets will be fixed, and the p*,ntaloons, in a 
neat roll, will be carried on the point of the bayonet. A halt will 
be ordered on the other side of the ford, to allow the men to take 
off their drawers, wring them dry, and resume their clothing and 
knapsacks. 

Strong parties will be detailed to accompany the wagons, to assist 
them to cross the ford. The rear-iiuard to each regiment will 



THE MAECH TO SAVANNA. 233 

consist of one company under charge of a field officer, whose par- 
ticular province it will be to assist the passage of the train over 
the ford. The ammunition boxes of the artillery will be taken off 
the limbers and passed across the river on scows. 
By command of 

Brigadier-General Nelson. 

J. Mills Kendeick, A. A. A. G. 

Promptly at six o'clock on the morning of March 29th, the 
Tenth Brigade was in motion. The ford was very tortuous, 
being ahiiost in the shape of a letter S. Stripping to their 
drawers, as ordered, the men crossed without serious difficulty; 
but a regiment of cavalry, breaking in ahead of the trains, the 
further^bank was made so slippery by the water dripping off 
the horses' bodies that much hard labor was necessary to get 
the Avagons up into the roadway. Before sunset, however, the 
whole division was over, except a portion of the artillery ; and 
the Tenth Brigade, after a march of three more miles through 
Columbia, had gone into camp on the plantation of General 
Pillow's father-in-law, two miles south of that place. Thus, 
Nelson gained the advance, and the rebel plans for crushing 
Grant were predestinated failures from that hour. 

On Sunday, March 30th, Crittenden's division followed, the 
Fourth Division moving forward about three miles to make 
room for it, and the Tenth Brigade encamping on Colonel 
"William H. Polk's plantation. General Nelson established 
his head-quarters at the house of General Pillow, whose mag- 
nificent estate and beautiful grounds excited universal admira- 
tion. Next morning the march was resumed in earnest. From 
Columbia to Savanna the distance is eighty-two miles;* the 

* General Buell, in his letter, dated April 3d, 1866, says ninety miles, 
but he evidently had in mind the average distance of his divisions from 
Savanna, at the time his column began crossino; Duck River. 



234 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

country, except for the first fifteen miles, is sparsely settled, 
rough, and poor, and the roads are no better than such regions 
commonly aiford the traveler, off the thoroughfares of traffic. 
Upon a single narrow and ill-kept roadway, for lack of more 
practicable routes, General Buell now pushed forward his divis- 
ions at intervals of six miles, in the following order, namely : 
Nelson, Crittenden, McCook, AVood, and Thomas. The latter 
did not cross Duck River until the 2d of April, and on the 
same day General Buell himself left Columbia. 

Before taking up his line of march from Polk's, General 
Nelson issued the following succinct orders : " A strong pioneer 
party will be detailed from the Tenth Brigade, under a com- 
petent officer, to repair the road. Brigade commanders will 
see that the greatest possible quantity of forage is carried, as 
none is to be had beyond Mount Pleasant. The telegraph 
laborers will be assisted, at all times when necessary, by an 
the officers." On Monday, the 31st of March, the Fourth 
Division moved ten miles and halted early, having reached the 
base of a high hill resembling the Kentucky " barrens," that 
was destitute of water for several miles. A strong cavalry 
picket was pushed forward eleven miles to Buffalo River, where 
it arrived just in season to save the bridge, and during the 
night was repeatedly fired upon. About midnight, an infantry 
picket nearer camp shot a farmer named Cox, who was attempt- 
ing to steal past the outpost and refused to halt when chal- 
lenged. The wretched man lived about three hours, and 
almost his last words were a horrible imprecation upon the 
Yankee invaders. On the 1st of April, an oppressively warm 
day, the division marched fourteen miles, and encamped in a 
wood three miles beyond Buffido River. On the 2d, thera 
w^ere two or three showers of rain ; the Sixth Ohio had the 
advance of the division, marched sixteen miles to Pointer's 



THE MAECH TO SAVANNA. 235 

(or, as it is otherwise nanietl, Mount Jasper) Furnace, and 
pitched camp in a stony bottom close under the hill which fur- 
nished the iron ore. The pickets advanced to AYayncsboro', 
five miles further. On the 3d, the division marched fifteen 
miles, encamping on Hardin Creek. At Waynesboro', where, 
for the first time since entering Tennessee, the troops were 
welcomed with genuine enthusiasm, one of the batteries ob- 
tained a number of recruits. Late in the afternoon, heavy 
cannonading was heard toward the south-west, exciting much 
speculation as to its import. 

On the date last given, General Buell, who had not yet 
overtaken his foremost division, telegraphed General Halleck 
that at Waynesboro' the road forked to strike the Tennessee at 
several points, and suggested that it might be well to move 
from that place to Hamburg Landing rather than to Savanna 
(which would have brought the Army of the Ohio within four 
miles of Grant's position at Pittsburg Landing). A day or 
two later. General Halleck replied : " You are right about con- 
centrating at Waynesboro' : future movements must depend on 
those of the enemy;" adding that he himself could not leave 
Saint Louis to join the combined forces on the Tennessee until 
the 7th. Happily for all the combatants upon the National 
side, most fortunately for General Grant's future reputation and 
career. Nelson was almost in sight of Savanna when this an- 
swer reached General Buell, by whose order the other divisions 
were following as rapidly as the horrible condition of the 
roads would permit. 

Thq 3d of April is also the date on which the rebel army 
moved from Corinth toward the Union camps at Pittsburg 
Landing, intending to attack on the 5th, and overwhelm Grant 
before Buell could come to his succor. Grant was in tele- 



236 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

graphic communication with the Army of the Ohio from the 
noon of that day, when his telegraph constructors met Nelson's 
division a few miles south of Waynesboro' and promptly re- 
ported the fact to Grant, with the additional information that 
the column would probably reach Savanna on Saturday, the 
5th instant, as it subsequently did. Grant had no message to 
send that day, but on the 4th he telegraphed Nelson that the 
troops need not hasten their march, as transports would not 
be in readiness, at any rate, until the 8th.* Without slack- 
ening his speed in the least degree, however, General Nelson 
pressed forward. 

Soon after the Fourth Division started on the 4th, rain be- 
gan falling ; the country was very broken, and the roads, simply 
execrable before, now became steep and slippery, with mud- 
holes in abundance. The pioneer party, which had previously 
been doubled, thenceforward had a most laborious duty. A 
march of eleven miles brought the troops to Vausant's plan- 
tation before 3 P. M. The trains did not come up till near dusk, 
when tents were immediately pitched for the night. It was ten 
miles to Savanna. About one o'clock in the morning, a pour- 
ing rain set in, continuing till dawn of the 5th ; by 6 A. M. of 
which day the division was again in motion, the Sixth Ohio 
leading. The Tenth Brigade reached Savanna about eleven 
o'clock; the Nineteenth Brigade, which followed next, was 
somewhat delayed at two deep fords a few miles back; while 
the Twenty-second Brigade, marching in the rear, did not 
reach the vicinity of Savanna until late in the afternoon. The 
batteries of artillery accompanied their respective brigades, but 

* This remarkable dispatch Grant's biographers very considerately for- 
bear to mention in any manner. 



THE MAECH TO SAVANNA. 237 

many of the wagons, including the division supply-train, were 
that day brought no further than Swift Creek, five miles back 
toward Waynesboro'. 

Forty-eight hours had now elapsed since Grant was notified 
that the Fourth Division would reach Savanna on the 5th ; yet 
not a single transport had been provided to convey it, or any 
portion of it, up the Tennessee. General Buell being still 
several miles in the rear. Nelson reported directly to General 
Grant. " We have reached here," said he, " after forced march- 
ing and great hardshijis. I have not yet pitched my tents, 
however, and I hope. General, you will allow me to encamp 
somewhere near Pittsburg Landing." 

"Not immediately. General," was Grant's reply; "you will 
encamp, for the present, at Savanna." 

Flushed with surprise, Nelson answered impulsively, "Do 
you not think Beauregard will attack you ? The wonder to 
me is that he has not done so before. If he fail to attack your 
present position, sir, he is not the man whose military discre- 
tion should govern the movements of any army." 

" Even if he should attack me," rejoined Grant, " I have 
more men than I had at Fort Donelson, and in any event can 
hold my own." 

Nelson's answer was very emphatic, in nearly these words : 
" If Beauregard can not defeat your army alone, how can he 
expect to defeat yours and Buell's combined? Reasoning in 
this manner, I think it very strange that he has not already 
given you fight. He must do it now within five days, or not 
at all; and if I encamp near Pittsburg Landing, I shall be 
within striking distance. General, either to hinder or to help." 

"My order, General Nelson, is that you encamp here. I 
shall go up the river to-night or to-morrow morning, and you 
will await further orders." 



238 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

This peremptory command closed the discussion,* and the 
Fourth Division accordingly remained at Savanna, the Tenth 
Brigade encamping not more than lialf a mile south-east 
of the village, and the Nineteenth and Twenty-second Bri- 
gades a short distance back on the road toward Waynes- 
boro.' 

Later in the day. Grant, in company with Nelson, called at 
the head-quarters of Colonel Ammen, with whom he had been 
on terms of personal friendship for many years. In the course 
of conversation. Colonel Ammen remarked that, although his 
brigade had done some hard marching, it was still in good 
condition, and ready to move to the front at any hour. Grant 
informed him that it was nearly or quite impracticable to march 
a column through the swamps bordering the river to the 23oint 
opj)osite Pittsburg Landing (referring, of course, to the passage 
of artillery and trains, as well as of infantry), adding that the 
troops had better make themselves comfortable where they 
were, and on the "next Monday or Tuesday, or early in the 
week, at any rate," he would send transports down to take 
them all up together. In explanation of the cannonading 
which had so disquieted the Fourth Division, he mentioned the 
fact that some skirmishing had taken place along his lines on 
both Thursday and Friday, but he spoke very confidently of 
the strength of his army, and in nearly the same words that he 
had used to General Nelson. He alluded to the improbability of 
any engagement being fought " this side of Corinth ; " and, on 
leaving, he gave Colonel Ammen a pressing invitation to call 
at his head-quarters on the evening of the next day (Sunday), 
accompanying it with an apology for deferring the appoint- 

* Dr. Bradford, who was present during the interview, and heard every 
word that passed between Grant and Nelson, can testify to the substantial 
correctness of the above account of it 



THE MAECH TO SAVANNA. 239 

merit to that time by saying that he had an engagement for 
the intervening evening. 

About sundown, General Buell reached Savanna, having left 
Crittenden's division a few miles in the rear. Grant had de- 
clined to meet him until the 6th,* and therefore he did not ride 
down into the village to consult with that officer, but passed 
the night at the head-quarters of General Nelson. Neverthe- 
less, the fact of his presence was known at Savanna, to a por- 
tion of his own troops at least. 

AVith the facts narrated in the foregoing pages in mind, the 
inaccuracies of General Badeau's account are apparent, when it 
says: "This day (April 5th) the head of Nelson's column ar- 
rived at Savanna, and Nelson himself reported to Grant, who 
in person directed him to march his command to a position 
south of Savanna, and about five miles from the point opposite 
Pittsburg Landing; there, he was to hold himself in readi- 
ness to reenforce the army on the left bank in case of need. 
The order was obeyed, and Grant, having made all his prepa- 
rations for removing his head-quarters to Pittsburg on the 
morrow, remained to meet Buell, as that officer had desired." 

The sun set in a clear sky, the night came on cool, tranquil, 
starlighted, and the Fourth Division, after its long march, 

* " A message was brought him [Grant] from Buell, dated the 4th of 
April, requesting Grant to remain at Savanna on the 5th, as he would 
arrive there on that day. ' I shall be in Savanna myself to-morrow, with 
perhaps two divisions,' said Buell ; ' can I meet you there ? ' Grant re- 
plied on the 5th: 'Your dispatch just received. I will be here to meet 
you to-morrow. The enemy at and near Corinth [not a word about their 
massing in his immediate front] are probably from sixty to eighty thou- 
sand.' Buell, however, did not arrive till the 6th, or, if otherwise, did not 
make it known to his superior [which Grant was simply by virtue of rank, 
not in the sense of being the commanding officer], and Grant remained to 
meet him." — Badeau's Life of Grant. 



240 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

rested well, with the prospect of enjoying two or three leisure 
daySj at least, at Savanna. That night a rebel army of 40,000 
muskets slept almost within sound of the drums that beat the 
tattoo along Sherman's lines, out in the woods, whose shadows 
stretched for miles around Shiloh Church. Meantime, a batch 
of dispatches were on their way to department head-quarters, 
in which occur the following remarkable passages.* 

Grant to Hallegk, April 5, 1862. {Evening^ 

The main force of the enemy is at Corinth, with troops at dif- 
ferent points east. . . . The number of the enemy at Corinth, 
and within supporting distance of it, can not be far ffom eighty 
thousand men. . . . Some skirmishing took place between our 
outguards and the enemy's, yesterday and the day before. . 
/ have scarcely the faintest idea of an attack (^general one') being 
made upon us, but will be prepared should such a thing take place. 
. . . It is my present intention to send them [Buell's three fore- 
most divisions] to Hamburg, some four miles above Pittsburg, when 
they all get here. 

Sherman to Grant, April 5, 1862. v 

All is quiet along my lines now. The enemy has cavalry in our 
front, and I think there are two regiments of infintry and one bat- 
tery of artillery six miles out. ... I have no doubt that 
nothing will occur to-day, more than some picket firing. The 
enemy is saucy, but got the worst of it yesterday, and will not 
press our pickets far. I will not be drawn out far, unless with cer- 
tainty of advantage; and I do not apprehend any thing like an 
attack upon our position. 

* The italicizing, of course, is by the author of this volume. 



TO PITTSBUEG LANDING. 241 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

TO PITTSBURG LANDIXG. 

(APRIL 6, 1862.) 

MORE beautiful morning never dawned than was tliat 
of Sunday, April 6, 1862, upon the Tennessee. The 
troops of the Fourth Division were astir betimes, preparing for 
the inspection concerning which precise and rigid orders had 
been read (to the Tenth Brigade at least) at dress parade on 
Saturday evening. The sun was an hour high — perhaps a 
little more — when the sound of cannonading came rolling 
heavily from the direction of Pittsburg Landing, the reports 
rapidly increasing in volume and frequency, and the low 
crackling of distant musketry filling every interlude. In that 
roar General Nelson recognized the fulfillment of his fears con- 
cerning the safety of Grant's army up the river. He had not 
yet arisen ; springing from his couch, he called to Lieutenant 
Southgate, who slept in an adjoining tent, and ordered him to 
notify the itrigade commanders to " have their men in readi- 
ness to move at any moment after the end of an hour;" an- 
other aid Avas dispatched to the river, to see if any transports 
had arrived during the night. As the firing continued, Nel- 
son, still awaiting Grant's orders, chafed like a lion caged. He 
ate no breakfast, paced up and down before his tent, could uot 
be pacified, and would not be pleased with any thing or any 
16 



242 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

/ 

body about him. He spoke repeatedly of General Grant's hav- 
ing thwarted his ,plans, or at least disappointed his hopes in 
regard to moving up to Pittsburg Landing immediately upon 
his arrival at Savanna ; and, finally, turning to Dr. Bradford, 
he exclaimed vehemently : " By G — d, Bradford, if I get no or- 
ders by twelve o'clock, I will move without them. I will do 
it, if I have to go back to the deck of my ship for it !" So 
earnest and so frequent were General Nelson's expressions of 
this character during the forenoon, that many of his staff and 
other officers then intimately associated with him, have always 
believed that he put his division on the march absolutely with- 
out orders, and the same views have been repeatedly advanced 
in print. Such an aggregation of testimony, notwithstanding 
its error in regard to one of the points involved, is really 
valuable, because based upon personal observation and ac- 
quaintance, and much weight may justly be claimed for it, in 
considering those charges of laggardness and delinquency which 
Kave been brought against General Nelson since death sealed 
his lijas to eternal silence.* 

*So for as the writer is aware, the first attempt — at least, in print- 
to make General Nelson a scape-goat for the disasters of the first day at 
Sliiloh, was in a foot-note given in Professor Coppee's "Grant and his 
Campaigns," published in January, 1866, which reads as follows: "Gen- 
eral Grant, hearing that Nelson's division had arrived on the night of the 
5th in the vicinity of Savanna, had sent him an order as early as seven 
o'clock on the morning of the 6th, to move to a point on the river oppo- 
Bite Pittsburg Landing," etc. General Rawlins, Grant's Chief of Staff, ia 
understood to have given the above work a somewhat elaborate revision 
"in proof," but, perhaps, it would be unjust to hold him responsible for 
this shameful distortion of the truth, although it is worthy of note that 
the text of Professor Coppee's book is entirely free from any ungenerous 
reflections upon General Nelson. However this may be, the following 
statement contained in General Rawlins' address before the Society of 
the Army of the Tennessee, at its first annual reunion, November 14, 



TO PITTSBURG LANDING. 243 

Unwilling longer to endure his torturing suspense, General 
Nelson mounted his horse, and galloped down to Grant's head- 
quarters ; for, although Bucll was his immediate commander, 
the necessities of the occasion, as well as Halleck's instructions, 
invested Grant with the control of all movements made directly 
in the presence of the enemy at this stage of the campaign. 
This was about eight o'clock — possibly a few minutes later 
than that hour. Either at Grant's head-quarters or soon after 
his return from there. Nelson received an order which Badeau 

quotes as follows: 

Savanna, April G, 1862. 

Brigadier-Gejieral Wm. Nelson, Commanding Division in Buell's Army: 

An attack having been made on our forces, you will move 
your entire command to the river opposite Pittsburg. You can 
easily obtain a guide in the village. 
By order of 

Majoe-Geneeal Geant. 

John A. Rawlins, A. A. G. 

General Buell, going to Grant's head-quarters at or about 
the same time, found the following note there awaiting him : 

Savanna, April 6, 1862. 
General D. C. Buell: 

Heavy firing is heard up the river, indicating plainly that an 

1866, demands examination almost equally with the preceding: "General 
Grant, hearing artillery firing in the direction of Pittsburg Landing, or- 
dered General Nelson to march his command, rapidly as possible, to the 
point on the Tennessee River opposite Pittsburg Landing," etc. The order 
in question was written by General (then Captain) Rawlins himself, and, 
as the' reader will perceive by consulting the text, does not contain the 
Avords " rapidly as possible," nor any thing like them, nor were there any 
verbal orders given which could have embodied them. Touching a vital 
point in the Shiloh conti-oversy, as it does, and casting serious imputations 
upon the honor of a soldier lying in his grave, this interpolation is inex- 
cusable. 



244 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

attack has been made upon our most advanced positions. I have 
been looking for this, but did not believe the attack could be 
made before Monday or Tuesday. This necessitates my joining the 
forces up the river instead of meeting you to-day as I had con- 
templated. I have directed General Nelson to move to the river 
with his division. He can march to opposite Pittsburg. 
Kespectfully, your obedient servant, 

U. S. GRANT, 
Major- General Commanding* 

Grant was accordingly on the way to Pittsburg Landing, on 
his dispatch-boat, the steamer Tigress. Supplementing the 
remarkable interview of the day before, his order to General 
Nelson had the import of a permission to carry out Nelson's 

* In this note the prominent feature is a tone of apology for having 
again disappointed Buell in regard to a personal conference. As a mat- 
ter of information, and to relieve Buell of present care in regard to the 
movements of Nelson, Grant mentions the fact that the latter will con- 
tinue the march by his orders. The phraseology is worth noting — Nel- 
son "can march," etc., not "will march," as both custom and propriety 
of language would have shaped the expression had Grant been speaking 
of an order to push forward needed reeuforcements. Knowing that twp 
other divisions of BueU's army are only a few miles back toward Waynes- 
boro', Grant never so much as hints that it might be well to hasten their 
movements, much less does he promise to send transports for them to 
Savanna, as it was afterward found necessary to do. True, he speaks of 
an attack, but it is "upon our most advanced positions," not " upon our po- 
sition," nor "our camp;" and the term here employed accords exactly with 
Grant's explanation, in a private letter to a friend at the North (written 
a few days after the battle, and published in the Cincinnati Commercial), 
that he had not anticipated any thing more serious on the part of the 
enemy than a reconnoissance in force. This explanation, Avhich was no 
doubt a truthful one, reconciles the apparent discrepancy between the 
above note to Buell and Grant's pacific assurances to General Halleck on 
the previous evening. 



TO PITTSBURG LANDING. 245 

original plan, rather than of au imperative command to move 
reenforcements to a battle-field, as Gi'ant's biographers have 
construed it. The primary significance of the statement, " An 
attack having been made on our forces," is probably to be 
found in a certain deference to General Buell, Nelson's imme- 
diate commander, who, until a short time before, had ranked 
Grant. The latter naturally felt some delicacy in assuming to 
command Nelson directly, under Buell's own eye as it was, 
and hence this phrase in explanation. It is quite clear that 
when he started for Pittsburg Landing, Grant had no serious 
apprehensions that a general engagement was in progress; 
which will seem less surprising when we remember that Gen- 
eral Sherman, who was on the ground, and occupying with his 
division the outermost camps, was not convinced of that fact 
until eight o'clock that morning.* Grant left the impression 
behind him at Savanna (which continued for some hours 
among the officers of the Army of the Tennessee) that the fir- 
ing was merely an affair of outposts. Moreover, he had three 
regiments of his own army at Savanna,t where every man of 
them in sound health was now entirely superfluous; yet he 
sent them no orders to accompany Nelson, nor even to prepare 
to move at all. 

Unleashed at last, Nelson returned from the head-quarters 
of the Army of the Tennessee, and dispatched the necessary 

*" About 8 A. M., I saw the glistening bayonets of hea\7^ masses of 
infantry to our left front, in the woods beyond the small stream alluded 
to, and became satisjied for the first time that the enemy designed a deter- 
mined attack upon our whole camp." — Gerieral Shermans Official Re- 
port. 

f "At Savanna were three regiments of the Army of the Tennessee, 
and Nelson's division of Buell's army, which had arrived the day be- 
fore." — Address of General Rawlins to the Society of the Army of the Ten- 



246 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

orders to his brigade commanders. It was difficult to recon- 
cile Grant's order to "march to a point opposite Pittsburg" 
with his previous declarations regarding the impracticability 
of the roads thither ; he had given no explanations, nor had 
he left any one behind who could give them ; and he was 
greatly mistaken in supposing that a guide could easily be ob- 
tained in the village, since the few citizens who could be found 
were indisposed to communicate the desired information, even 
if they possessed it. All knew that there were wagon-paths 
up through the woods and swamps to the point designated, 
but the recent high waters had flooded the bottoms, and the 
prevailing impression seemed to be that those routes were still 
impassable. Always quick to decide in case of emergency, 
General Nelson directed ' his adj utant-general, Captain Ken- 
drick, to take his cavalry escort, and make an examination of 
the roads with all possiljle speed. 

As yet, no definite tidings had come from the battle-field, 
but the continuous rumbling of artillery in the direction of 
Grant's camps could hardly be misunderstood, and already 
rumors of disaster Avere beginning to flit through the air. 
Ominous although these rumors were, they did not tell one- 
half the tale. Sherman's and McClernand's divisions, break- 
ing and crumbling under the fierce onslaught of the enemy, 
were being forced back, still back, toward the landing; frag- 
mentary bands of heroes, halting here, rallying there, even 
attempting a desperate charge now and then, were fighting 
stubbornly, where and how they could, but at such fearful dis- 
advantage as men must fight who have been overmatched ill 
generalship, and are overborne by numbers. Prentiss' little 
division of perfectly raw troops, on the left, had been struck 
still earlier, and as an organization had almost melted away 
at once. Hurlbut's and W. H. L. "Wallace's divisions were 



TO PITTSBURG LANDIXG. 247 

struggling gallantly to stem the tide of defeat, but with little 
hojje, and still less prospect, of success, although every man 
who could be brought into action was already engaged. Thou- 
sands of panic-stricken fugitives, abandoning braver comrades 
to their fate, had fled to the landing, some of them without 
firing a gun. Happily, however, the Fourth Division, as yet, 
was ignorant of these details. 

During the absence of Captain Kendrick, General Nelson's 
situation was distressing in the extreme ; anxious, eager, im- 
patient to move to the field, yet restrained in idle waiting by 
a train of circumstances that had foiled all his energy and fore- 
sight. A number of empty transports were known to be lying 
at Pittsburg Landing, and it was reasonable to suppose that, 
if the action was not progressing satisfactorily, they would be 
sent down to bring up Crittenden's troops, in which case 
Nelson could have pressed them into service for the Fourth 
Division. As it turned out, however, Grant did not send 
down any steamers until after Buell had gone up the river, 
and Buell, at this time, was with Nelson at Savanna. Grant's 
first message from the battle-field did not reach Nelson until 
some time after noon ; in fact, it was half-past eleven* when 
orders reached General Lewis Wallace, commanding an out- 
lying division of Grant's own army, at Crump's Landing, 
which was five miles nearer the scene of conflict, and ypon the 
same side of the Tennessee. 

Early in the day, immediately upon being notified to have 
the Tenth Brigade in readiness to move at the end of an hour, 

*"At half-past eleven o'clock the anticipated orders arrived," etc. — 
Major- General Lewis Wallace^ s Official Report. 

General Grant, aa is well known, was greatly disposed to censure "Wal- 
lace for the late arrival of that officer's splendid division, but even his 
report does not claim that the order was delivered Wallace bdfore eleven. 



248 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

Colonel Ammen directed Quartermaster Wiggins to go to the 
Post Commissary and draw rations, the men having but two 
more meals in their haversacks. Captain Wiggins returned 
with the information that not a barrel of crackers was to be 
had in Savanna, upon which he was ordered back to the sup- 
ply-train at Swift Creek, sparing neither spurs nor horseflesh 
in so doing, to hasten forward the wagons. This order was 
promptly executed; and having got every thing ready for an 
immediate start, including the hitching up of the artillery, Col- 
onel Ammen, at about eleven o'clock, went down to the land- 
ing, where he found Buell and Nelson anxiously looking up 
the river for the smoke of the transports, which they hoped, if 
not expected, Grant had sent for the other reenforcements which 
he knew were at and near Savanna, even if Nelson's division 
had started.* There had been no lull in the sullen sounds of 
battle, of any consequence, since the firing first broke out. 
Buell was reserved and moody; Nelson manifested his impa- 
tience more plainly, though it was restrained in some measure 
by the presence of his superior. Both seemed disappointed by 

* We have seen that Grant had three regiments of his own army lying 
at Savanna ; and on Saturday, April 5th, he advised Halleck by telegraph 
of the near approach of two divisions of Buell's army, in addition to Nel- 
son's command, which had already arrived, showing that he knew the 
actual proximity of Crittenden and McCook. The following extract from 
General Buell's oiEcial report states one or two facts that have been sin- 
gularly overlooked in every account of the battle of Shiloh that has yet 
come to the writer's notice: "Finding General Grant at the landing, Ire- 
quested him to send steamers to Savanna, to bring up General Crittenden's 
division, which had arrived during the morning." Colonel Gibson's brigade, 
of McCook's division, was obliged to lay at Savanna all Sunday night and 
a part of the next morning, waiting for transportation, and did not get into 
the fight until nearly noon of Monday. So much for the tardiness in 
bringing up Crittenden's troops. 



TO PITTSBUEG LANDING. 249 

the non-appearance of the boats, and both expressed their per- 
plexity at the unaccountable silence of General Grant, from 
whom no word of any kind had been received since his de- 
parture in the morning. 

Leaving them still at the landing. Colonel Ammen, by their 
permission, went to the house near by, in which General Charles 
F. Smith, an old associate in the regular service, was lying ill 
of the disease which afterward carried him to the grave. Col- 
onel Ammen remarked that they seemed to be having consid- 
erable of a fight up at Pittsburg Landing, judging from the 
heavy firing. Full of energy and fire, the gallant old veteran 
rejoined that it was nothing more than a skirmish, and rallied 
Ammen good-naturedly, because the Army of the Ohio, never 
having smelled gunpowder, fancied every skirmish a battle; 
the Army of the Tennessee had faced the music before, and 
they knew better. Such was the opinion, at half-past eleven 
or twelve o'clock, of the most accomplished soldier in the 
Army of the Tennessee — Grant's old commandant at West 
Point, and now his most trusted counselor — away from the 
field, of course, but within sound of all its artillery fire at 
least. 

Recalled by a message from Nelson, Colonel Ammen hast- 
ened down to find that General Buell had ordered a little 
craft at the landing to get under steam, and was going to the 
front; the division had orders to start at one o'clock, leaving all 
its trains and artillery behind. Captain Kendrick had carried 
out his instructions with such stress of energy as to kill several 
horses and leave behind a number of men. He reached Nel- 
son's head-quarters, on his return, about twelve o'clock, and 
reported that the road along the river bank was impassable 
from its obstruction by swollen streams. The other road was 
equally winding, but, being on higher ground for the greater 



250 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

part of the distance, it was practicable for infantry and cav- 
alry, though not for artillery. 

At one o'clock,* Ammen's brigade moved out of camp, in 
the following order : Thirty-sixth Indiana, Colonel Grose, with 
an advanced guard of four companies, under command of Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Carey; Twenty-fourth Ohio, Lieutenant-Colonel 
Jones; Sixth Ohio, Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson. One com- 
pany from each regiment being ordered to stay with the trains 
and baggage, Company I was detailed for this duty in the Sixth 
Ohio, because its numerical weakness made it the one most eas- 
ily spared. Bruce's brigade, the Twenty-second, followed next 
after Ammen's, with the Nineteenth Brigade, Colonel Hazen's, 
in the rear. Company D, of the Second Kentucky, Captain 
J. W. Miller commanding, was left behind with the artillery. 

General Nelson remained at Savanna long enough to see the 
last regiment fairly on the march, by which time the foremost 
brigade was a considerable distance in advance, under the guid- 
ance of a native Tennesseean, whose services had been secured 
about the time of Captain Kendrick's return, and possibly by 
that officer. By the route which the Fourth Division was 
obliged to take, the distance from Savanna to the point oppo- 
site Pittsburg Landing is not less than eight miles. The troops 
marched briskly, the column well closed up, and at the end of 
the first hour Colonel Ammen rested his brigade at a clearing 
somewhat less than half-way to Pittsburg. Just beyond this 

* Nelson's official report says that his division moved at half-past one, 
but this statement is not quite accurate^ unless it be understood to refer 
to the rearmost brigade. The concun-ence of a great amount of other 
testimony is conclusive upon this point. A fuller description of the march 
from Savanna and the scenes at Pittsburg Landing than it is possible to 
embody in the main narrative will be found in Part II, in the chapters 
entitled "Coming up at Shiloh" and "Battle Pictures from Shiloh." 



TO PITTSBURG LANDING. 251 

point, the road makes a sudden bend to the right, descends 
abruptly into the low bottom-lands bordering the Tennessee, 
and thenceforward is merely a wagon-path through woods and 
marshes. The Tenth Brigade had just resumed its march, 
when General Nelson, mounted on the large and powerful bay 
horse that his troops all recognized as his favorite when there 
was work on hand, rode rapidly past to the head of the col- 
umn, where he slackened his speed for the purpose of instruct- 
ing Colonel Ammen to press the men forward as fast as could 
be done without breaking them down, and then Avent forward 
with the guide, telling Colonel Ammeu that he could follow their 
trail. Immediately upon descending into the bottom, the troops 
found the difficulties of the march much increased, and, although 
they were stimulated by the ever-nearing roar of battle and were 
eager to be in the fight, their progress was slow and exceedingly 
laborious. 

General Badeau says that soon after reaching the battle-field 
Grant sent Nelson an order, in writing, as follows : " You will 
hurry up your command as fast as possible. The boats will be 
in readiness to transport all troops of your comniand across the 
river. All looks well, but it is necessary for you to push for- 
ward as fast as possible." Such was the change which had come 
over the spirit of his dream since the previous evening ! What- 
ever the hour at which this dispatch was penned, there is indu- 
bitable evidence that Nelson had not received it when he put 
his division on the march; but the above-mentioned order to 
Colonel Ammen renders it probable that it reached him soon 
afterward, or some time between one and two o'clock. 

Nelson was a hard rider, and soon left the column behind, 
a portion of his staif and Dr. Bradford accompanying him. 
When within two or three miles of Pittsburg Landing, one 
of General Grant's aids rode up, mounted upon the same dun 



252 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

stallion which Grant had ridden the day before at Savanna, 
and told General Nelson to press forward his men, or the fight 
would be lost. The order was verbal, not in writing. It was 
immediately transmitted to Colonel Ammen, who, fearing the 
effect of such news upon the men, turned the messenger back, 
with the answer that the Tenth Brigade was coming without 
one moment's unnecessary delay, and also sent forward his 
adjutant-general to intercept any other couriers who might be 
met bearing similar tidings. The division took the double- 
quick, but could not maintain the pace on account of the heav- 
iness of the roadway and the innumerable delays encountered 
in crossing ponds and marshy places. The afternoon, too, was 
oppressively sultry. At length the column debouched into a 
clearing opposite Pittsburg Landing. On the blufp above the 
latter, and back in the woods beyond, artillery was thunder- 
ing, while still heavier explosions up the river told where the 
gunboats Tyler and Lexington were at work — it was impossi- 
ble to mistake the sound of their thirty-two-pounders for any 
lighter metal. Thousands of troops, whom Nelson's men at 
first mistook for reserves, thronged the landing. A number 
of transports, with steam up, were in sight, several of them 
crowded with wounded and skulkers from the battle-field. It 
was well for the Fourth Division, and well also for Grant's 
beaten army, that Nelson's men were not fully apprized of the 
appalling events which had transpired in the dejjths of the 
woods on the further side of the Tennessee. 

Reaching Pittsburg Landing about nine o'clock,* General 

* Following General Rawlins' narrative, Badeau says Grant reached 
Pittsburg Landing "at about eight o'clock." He could not have done it 
much before nine. He did not leave Savanna until after half-past seven, and 
had to stop at Crump's Landing, on his way up the river, to see General 
Lew. Wallace. It is worthy of note that not one of the official reports of 



TO PITTSBUEG LANDING. 253 

Grant had exerted himself to the full extent of his ability to avert 
the calamities that his previous mismanagement had invited ; 
but it was little that he could then do toward atoning for the 
infatuation of three weeks, and it was comparatively little that 
he attempted. His conduct showed nothing of brilliancy and 
mental grasp, nor even of personal daring, worthy to be named 
in the same breath with Rosecrans' part at Stone River, or Sher- 
idan's apparition upon the lost field of Cedar Creek; in fact, there 
was no occasion for just such displays of generalship as have 
made those fields forever famous ; and if there had been. Grant 
was not the man to make them. The story, however, that 
Grant was drunk has no foundation in truth ; and it is doubt- 
less true that throughout all that awful Sabbath he never lost 
heart, in which there Avas a foreshadowing, even at Shiloh, 
of his future successes, and a signal exhibition of that grand 
tenacity of purpose which constitutes one of his clearest titles 
to greatness. 

Hour after hour the storm of battle beat upon the confused 
and often illy-posted lines of the shattered divisions of the 
Army of the Tennessee, and hour by hour the gallant men 
who did stand and fight were being driven further from their 
camps and nearer to the river. About half-past three in the 
afternoon, Bragg hurled a heavily-massed column against the 

Grant's subordinates (none at least of those which are in print at this date) 
makes any mention of his presence at the front during Sunday forenoon. 
General Sherman, however, in his letter to the United States Service Mag- 
azine, says that Grant was "at his front at 10 A. M., and in a short time 
went over to the left," etc. In all probability, Grant rode out to Sher- 
man's lines first, as there was where the heaviest fighting was then in 
progress ; and, besides, he would naturally go to Sherman for trustworthy 
information touching the sudden and terrible change which affairs had 
undergone since the preceding day. 



254 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

Union left, and sweeping it away as the whirlwind sweeps up 
the leaves in autumn, captured General Prentiss, with nearly 
the whole of that officer's command which had not fled from 
the fight eight hours before, and forced back the fragmentary 
remnants of Hurlbut's and W. H. L. Wallace's divisions to 
within half a mile of the landing. 

The nature of the ground over which the battle of Shiloh 
was fought is a circumstance of more essential importance 
than annalists have generally regarded it, since, had it been 
clear of timber and less broken, Grant's army must have been 
destroyed before reenforcements could arrive. Most fortu- 
nately, the weight of the rebel attack, on Sunday afternoon, 
fell upon the Union left, where the ground was j^articularly 
favorable for defense; and when Hurlbut made a last des- 
perate stand, with such forces as X30uld be rallied after the 
crowning disaster of the afternoon, it was in a position where 
his left flank was protected by a deep and rugged ravine, 
flooded for a considerable distance by the high waters of the 
Tennessee. The same ravine, gradually becoming less and 
less marked as it recedes from the river, extended along most, 
or perhaps all, of his front also. 

The rebel army was scarcely less disorganized by victory 
than was the Army of the Tennessee by defeat; but Bragg 
soon had his forces in hand, and delivered another furious 
attack, his right coming down to within an eighth of a mile of 
the landing, and the shells from his artillery falling thickly 
into the river a short distance above that point.* At this 
crisis the gunboats came into action with beautiful effect. The 
siege-guns designed for the reduction of Corinth, but toward 
which they had been moved only a few hundred yards from 

* Official report of Lieutenant James W. Shirk, commanding gunboat 
Lesini^ton. 



TO PITTSBUEG LANDING. 255 

the landing, together with such portions of the field artillery 
as had been saved from capture, were also served with great 
efficiency, under the management of Colonel Webster, Grant's 
chief of artillery. Under such a concentration of artillery 
fire, Bragg's charging columns found the ravine a most formi- 
dable barrier, and thus the enemy was somehow held at bay 
while Nelson's division was filing down to the river's brink 
opposite Pittsburg Landing. Bragg was not surprised to find 
a desperate resistance on the part of an enemy who could yield 
nothing more without yielding every thing. He had planted 
his artillery so as to command the vital spot of the Union 
position, and had gathered his forces for a grand, decisive 
eifort while daylight yet remained, \vheu a power appeared 
upon the scene for which he was in nowise prepared — Am- 
man's brigade was even then crossina; the river. 



256 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

SHILOH. 

(APRIL 6 AND 7, 1S62.) 

ON reaching the river, opposite the battle-field, General 
Nelson looked in vain for the promised boats. The two 
or three stern-wheel steamers that were lying under the eastern 
bank had come over simply to avoid the rush of the mob on 
the further shore, not, however, until after some scores of the 
scared wretches had succeeded in getting on board. Nelson 
had almost to force the captains of these boats to take his fore- 
most regiment, the Thirty-sixth Indiana, across ; and, having 
given orders to Colonel Ammen to get his brigade over as 
quickly as possible, and then follow in person, crossed to Pitts- 
burg Landing. He was the first to ride off the boat, Dr. Brad- 
ford being the second. General Buell met him on the bank, 
and ordered the men formed rapidly into line, as they should 
arrive, and moved to the front. " You have had the advance 
throughout the march," said Buell, "and here, General, is your 
opportunity. There is still one hour left in which to decide 
this fight." At this time the roar of battle sounded appallingly 
near; everything was in confusion ; thousands of panic-stricken 
fugitives were cowering under the bluif, filling the air with their 
cries and lamentations ; and hundreds of teams, with all the 
dcbi'is of a beaten army, were commingled in the utmost dis- 



SHILOH. 257 

order, and covered the landing down to the water's edge. It 
was a sickening sight — one that has never been adequately 
described, and never can be. Finding that words were thrown 
away upon the rabble around him, General Nelson afterward 
asked permission to open fire upon them. " Get out of the 
way, you d — d cowards ! " he exclaimed, furiously, as a rush 
was made toward one of the boats whence a detachment of the 
Sixth Ohio was disembarking ; " get out of tlie way ! If you 
won't fight yourselves, let these men oiF that will. Sixth 
Ohio, follow me ! " 

Upon the bluif overlooking the landing. General Grant was 
met, moody and silent, and at that moment on foot. Colonel 
Ammen, having meantime transmitted to Colonels Bruce and 
Hazen the order to hurry the men across, reported to Nelson 
upon the bluff. The Thirty-sixth Indiana was over. Com- 
panies A, F, and D, of the Sixth Ohio, were landing, and 
the Twenty-fourth, and the remaining companies of the Sixth 
Ohio, were either in the stream or in the act of embarking^ 
Grant told Ammen that he wanted him to support "that bat- 
tery on the left there," pointing, as he spoke, to Captain 
Stone's battery; ^'hereupon Colonel Ammen hastened to form 
such of his troops as had already arrived. While affairs were 
in this posture, a cannon-ball came whistling between the trees, 
took the head of one of Grant's orderlies off, shot away the 
saddle from under Lieutenant Graves, one of Nelson's aids, 
and went plunging over the bluff into the river below, produc- 
ing consternation indescribable among the til ousanda- herded 
about the landing. " Don't stop to form,, colonel, do n't stop 
to form ! " implored a staff officer, hurrying toward Colonel 
Ammen; "we shall all be massacred if you do! There isn't 
a man out yonder, on the left, between us and the rebels ! 
For God's sake, colonel, hurry your men forward ! " The 
17 



258 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

blessing that "Uncle Jakey" gave that demented creature, 
was long a favorite source of merriment around the camp-fires 
of the Tenth Brigade. 

As soon as the Thirty-sixth Indiana could be formed, and, 
without waiting for the remainder of the brigade, Colonel 
Ammen moved it forward— General Buell, who had previously 
examined the ground, showing him where to post it. The 
position assigned it was only about two hundred yards from 
the bluif, on the extreme left of the Union line, if line it might 
still have been called, and behind the crest of the hill that 
rises above the ravine before described. Companies A, F, and 
D, of the Sixth Ohio, formed on its left, and a little in the rear, 
but the rebel attack was too far to their right to permit them 
to get into action that night. In this quarter the artillery 
had been left absolutely without any organized infantry sup- 
port, and the handful of troops that still remained, chiefly 
cannoneers, were in extreme disorder. Had Bragg been able 
to renew his assault upon this portion of the Union lines twenty 
minutes earlier than he did — that is, before the opportune arri- 
val of Ammen's brigade — in all human probability he would 
have forced the position. Colonel Grose brought into action 
eight companies, about four hundred strong, his remaining two 
companies having been left on other duty at Savanna. The 
regiment had hardly completed its alignment when the rebels 
made their appearance, massed in column of attack, moving 
steadily toward it, in a direction somewhat oblique to Colonel 
Grose's line of battle — the backwater in the ravine having 
compelled them to strike somewhat higher up than the posi- 
tion originally aimed at. The Thirty-sixth immediately gave 
them a volley, which was promptly returned. The regiment 
had never been under fire before. It had formed under circum- 
stances the most discouraging possible to new troops, losing 



SHILOH. 259 

one man killed in so doing; but, being well and coolly com- 
manded, the men -stood up to their -work most gallantly. 
Amazed at the warmth of their reception, the rebels still 
strove to close in upon their antagonists ; but they could not 
face such a fire, in the disadvantageous position in which tliey 
found themselves from the nature of the ground, and were 
forced to retire in disorder. Twice in quick succession the 
attack was repeated, and twice more it was beaten off, Grose's 
men expending a total of fourteen or fifteen rounds. Prisoners 
captured the next day reported four hundred men killed and 
disabled in these three assaults. This was probably an exag- 
geration, but the rebels certainly lost heavily. 

It is General Badeau's good fortune, as the eulogist of Grant, 
(though not so, for his reliability as a historian,) that he was 
not present at Shiloh, a fact which, in a measure, palliates his 
statement that " as a final spasmodic attack was made by the 
rebels, these regiments [two of Nelson's] fired two or three 
volleys, and lost three men, but it was too late then to affect 
the fortunes of the day." Thus curtly is the decisive repulse 
of the enemy, at the grand climacteric of the day's fighting, 
disposed of, and pronounced an affair of no consequence. 
"While it is true that Am men's brigade had the cooperation 
of the gunboats and certain artillery, and even of a few of 
Grant's infantry, the arrival of that command was a most im- 
portant circumstance in the condition that affairs had fallen 
into on the left. Aside from the effect produced upon the 
enemy by the steady and well-delivered volleys of Grose's 
men, the moral effect of the appearance of fresh troops, eager, 
confident, and in perfect subordination, was of incalculable 
advantage in re-inspiriting Grant's worn and beaten soldiers. 

The remarkably small loss of the Thirty-sixth Indiana, 
which is not understated in the extract above given, is attri- 



260 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

butable to its judicious posting by Colonel Ammen, under the 
personal direction of General Euell. In the excitement of bat- 
tle, as every novice in military affairs well knows, troops nearly 
always fire too high, and new ones invariably do so. Instead 
of being pushed forward to the crest of the slope overlooking 
the ravine, w^hich, to an inexperienced soldier, would have 
seemed the better position, because a more commanding one, 
the Thirty-sixth was halted some distance before reaching it, 
the result of which was that, while the men, firing slightly up- 
ward, had the enemy in beautiful range, they were almost 
unharmed by the rebel volleys flying wildly over their heads. 
Handling his brigade upon the same principle the next day, 
Colonel Ammen brought it through, notwithstanding the ter- 
rific fire repeatedly concentrated upon it, with an additional loss 
in killed of only twelve men. 

The Sixth Ohio was thrown forward as quickly as possible 
to the support of the Thirty -sixth Indiana, the men rushing 
up through the woods with an exultant cheer that, for a mo- 
ment, drowned the noise of battle. Taking oif his hat, and 
his features all aglow with the inspiration of the occasion, 
General Nelson had fired a couple of rousing sentences into 
the eager ranks of his favorite regiment, and led the way him- 
self. Says a staff officer of the Tenth Brigade: "I doubt 
whether, on any battle-field during the war, any set of men 
ever formed under just such circumstances as the Sixth Ohio 
did at Shiloh. I shall never forget the scene. More than 
half of our artillery was gone, our entire force driven into 
twelve or fifteen acres of ground, a thousand wagons and nearly 
all the tents captured, the enemy pressing forward almost in 
sight ; batteries and musketry in front, and a cross-fire of can- 
non from above, and ten thousand panic-stricken men of our 
own fled out of the fight, hailing the troops just arriving with 



SHILOH. 261 

such cries as, ^We're whipped!' 'The fight is lost!' 'We're 
cut to pieces!' 'It's no use to form!' 'They're driving us 
into the river ! ' etc. In this terrible extremity the regiment 
fell quickly and orderly into line, and, at the word, moved 
gallantly forward. I could not resist the temptation of riding 
my iron-gray close up to the lines, and crying out, ' Bully for 
the Sixth Ohio ! ' " The regiment was halted a short distance 
in rear of the Thirty-sixth Indiana, the firing having materi- 
ally slackened; in a few minutes it ceased entirely. Within 
the next half-hour the deepening darkness, setting at rest the 
question of further fighting for that day, had decided the issue 
of the struggle: night and Blucher both had come. 

AVhere, meanwhile, was the Twenty-fourth Ohio? Imme- 
diately upon reporting to General Nelson on the bluff, and in 
dread lest his regiments, in the universal confusion and uproar, 
might become separated. Colonel Ammen sent one of his aids. 
Lieutenant Wheeler, down to the river, to guide Lieutenant- 
Colonel Jones to the position that had been assigned the bri- 
gade. The fighting was over by the time Lieutenant Wheeler 
returned. He reported that the boat containing the Twenty- 
fourth had been obliged to back off just at the moment of 
rounding to, its captain fearing that it would be swamped by 
a rush of the cowards from the shore ; and the regiment had 
disembarked at the lower landing, one-fourth of a mile down 
the river. Apprehending danger on the right. General Grant 
in person ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Jones to reenforce the 
lines in that quarter. Colonel Ammen, however, succeeded in 
maintaining communication with it by messengers, and, during 
the night, in having it ordered back to the brigade, in rejoin- 
ing w4iich it narrowly escaped being fired into by a green reg- 
iment of the Army of the Tennessee. 

General Grant did not again make his appearance upon the 



262 THE STORY OF A TvEGIZ^IEXT. 

left until aftor Tuesday morning; but soon after dark, on 
Sunday evening, Buell and Nelson rode out thither in com- 
pany, notified Colonel Ammen that the Tenth Brigade would 
hold the left of the line of battle next day, and directed him 
to have his men" in readiness to move forward and attack the 
enemy as soon as it should be light enough to see. Both ex- 
pressed great embarrassment from the meagerness of their in- 
formation concerning the roads and the topography of the 
battle-field, no less than from their ignorance of the enemy's 
movements, which the darkness screened most perfectly. 
Pickets had been posted at night-fall, and about ten o'clock. 
Companies A and F, of the Sixth Ohio, were ordered out to 
reconnoiter the ground in advance, etc., but with instructions 
not to fire under any circumstances, for fear of provoking a 
night attack. In the performance of this peculiarly delicate 
and dangerous service, Company F lost one of its best men, 
private William Brocksmith, who was mortally wounded, and 
died at dawn next day. 

Before midnight. Colonel iVmmen had formed his line of 
battle, as well as it could be done in the darkness, about two 
hundred yards in advance of the original position of the Thirty- 
sixth Indiana, as follows: Thirty-sixth Indiana on the left," 
Twenty-fourth Ohio on the right, and Sixth Ohio in the 
center. Supperless, save for the " hard-tack " they had munched 
as they sat or stood at "rest," and most of them entirely 
destitute of covering, the men lay upon their arms, waiting 
for daylight. A hard thunder-storm came up about one o'clock 
in the morning, and drenched them to the skin. At regular 
intervals, first of ten minutes and then of fifteen, the gunboats 
continued firing their eight-inch shells over the tree-tops into 
the rebel camps. Amid such surroundings, but little sleep was 
got that night by the men of the Fourth Division, the last of 



SHILOH. 263 

Avliom crossed the river about seven o'clock. General Xelson, 
though faring no better than they did, was in grand spirits, 
and impatient for daylight. '' Send me a bottle of wine and 
some cigars," he said to his friend, Lieutenant Gwin, of the 
gunboat Tyler; "I will show you some man-of-war fighting 
to-morrow." 

During the night, Crittenden's division arrived on boats 
from Savanna, and was put into position by General Buell on 
Nelson's right. McCook's foremost brigade came up about 
daylight, and his last about eleven o'clock, Monday forenoon, 
the division forming next on the right of Crittenden's. Lewis 
Wallace's division of the Army of the Tennessee, which reached 
the battle-field from Crump's Landing soon after dark, took 
j>osition on the extreme right of the Union line. These four 
divisions next day covered almost the entire front, and with 
the help of from five to eight thousand gallant soldiers from 
Grant's previously driven forces, they rolled back the tide of 
battle, and won decisive victory. 

Day was just beginning to break through the haze and gloom 
of IMonday morning, April 7th, when Nelson's men were quietly 
roused, and a regular line of skirmishers having been thrown 
out — consisting, in the Tenth Brigade, of Companies A and F, 
Sixth Ohio, Companies B and C, Thirty-sixth Indiana, and two 
companies from the Twenty-fourth Ohio — the whole division, 
a few minutes after five o'clock, advanced in line of battle, 
without either artillery or reserves. The skirmishers soon met 
the enemy's pickets, driving them with ease through Hurlbut's 
camps, where the tents were standing uninjured, and for a con- 
siderable distance beyond ; and the division had gained about 
one mile of ground, when, at six o'clock, it was halted by com- 
mand of General Buell, in order to allow Crittenden to come 
up and take his place upon its right. In happy ignorance of 



264 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

Buell'fi arrival, Beauregard had retired to rest on Sunday even- 
ing, elated with the prospect of capturing or destroying Grant's 
shattered forces on the following day. Nelson's early and im- 
petuous attack undeceived him, for in it he recognized the pres- 
ence of Buell's dreaded reenforcements, and the initiative of a 
conflict widely diifering in its conditions from the fighting of 
the day before* 

* Beauregard's ofBcial report says: "I accordingly established my 
head-quarters at the church at Shiloh, in the enemy's encampment, with 
Major-General Brago;, and directed our troops to sleep on their arms, in 
Buch positions, in advance and rear, as corps commanders should deter- 
mine, hoping, from news received by a special dispatch, that delaj-s had 
been encountered by General Buell in his march from Columbia, and that 
bis main forces, therefore, could not reach the field of battle in time to 
save General Grant's shattered, fugitive forces from capture or destruction 

on the following day About six o'clock on the morning of the 

7th of April, however, a hot fire of musketry and artillery, opened from the 
enemy's quarter on our advanced line, assured me of the junction of his 
forces, and soon the battle raged with a fury which satisfied me I was 
attacked by a largely superior force." 

From the fact that the rebels " did not attack on Monday, although they 
were ignorant of Buell's arrival," Badeau infers such an exhaustion 
upon their part as would have enabled Grant to retrieve the disasters of 
Sunday without any assistance from Buell ; but all the pith is taken 
out of this argument when we consider that it would have been necessary 
for Beauregard to attack before daylight, in order to have anticipated 
Buell's assault upon him. Another statement which Badeau makes in 
connection with the foregoing, merits examination. He says: "Grant 
gave his orders [on Sunday afternoon] to renew the fight before he was 
aware that the long-looked-for reenforcements had come." It is possible 
that Sherman, who had comparatively easy work after 2 P. M., did 
receive such orders before Nelson actually arrived, but it was not until 
Buell had promised Grant to have three divisions of the Army of the Ohio 
in Monday's fight; and at that moment, Nelson's division, if not at the 
river's bank, must have been almost in sight across the Tennessee. Be- 



SHILOH. 265 

During the half-hour's halt of Nelson's division, the skir- 
mish lines of both combatants were strengthened, Companies B 
and C constituting the additional detail from the Sixth Ohio. 
Notwithstanding the increased resistance which they encoun- 
tered when the division again advanced, Nelson's skirmishers 
promptly forced those of the enemy back upon the main bodv, 
and the action then became general. For the next eight or nine 
hours, there was scarcely a moment's intermission in the roar 
of battle that surged back and forth along the contending lines. 
The part which the Fourth Division sustained in the conflict 
is graphically described in the official reports appended to this 
chapter. More than once the command was forced to give ground 
under pressure of a heavy rebel concentration in its front, never, 
however, without speedily recovering it again, with* the assist- 
ance, in one instance, of the Nineteenth Ohio, from Critten- 
den's division, and at other times of the Second Iowa, Fifteenth 
Illinois, and other fragments of regiments from Grant's scat- 
tered forces. While all these troops fought well, the aid that 
was welcome most of all came from the regular batteries of 
Mendenhall and Terrill, the former belonging to Crittenden's 
division and the latter to McCook's. Terrill's opportune ar- 
rival undoubtedly decided an important phase of the engage- 
ment. A terrific fire of both artillery and musketry had been 
brought to bear upon Nelson, whose lines began to yield and 

tween twelve and one o'clock, while on his way up the river, Buell received 
a note from Grant, in which the latter estimated the enemy's strength at 
"over one hundred thousand men." (See Badeau's Life of Grant.) It is 
absurd to suppose that, with his fearfully weakened and disorganized com- 
mand, which originally numbered scarcely forty thousand effectives (in- 
cluding Lew. Wallace's division), Grant would have been sufficiently 
stupid or foolhardy to attack such vastly superior numbers, ably com- 
manded and fltished with victory, as he bitterly knew they were. 



266 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

break, in spite of the strenuous exertions of the officers; for 
that tempest of shot and shell was more than flesh and blood 
could stand. At this critical juncture, Terrill, just up from 
Savanna, dashed into action within less than rifle range of the 
rebel battery, which was stationed beyond the orchard that 
every survivor of Ammen's brigade so well remembers. His 
second shot blew up a rebel caisson, a few more shells silenced 
the battery, and within twenty minutes from his first appear- 
ance, the whole aspect of the battle on the left was changed. 
Terrill's battery fought on Nelson's front until the close of the 
engagement, most gallantly throughout. 

The fortitude of the Tenth Brigade was severely tried by 
the enemy's repeated atte'mpts to turn the Union left, particu- 
larly at the time of Terrill's arrival, and again about eleven 
o'clock; but the trained skill and imperturbable coolness of 
Colonel Ammen, and the discipline and steady courage of the 
troops, under brave and competent leadership in each regi- 
ment, carried it through the fight with marked distinction, 
and probably with greater economy of life, considering the 
work accomplished, tlian characterized the operations of any 
other brigade on the field. During the two hours between 
eleven and one o'clock, the Thirty-sixth Indiana remained 
under a fire so murderous that it must have been destroyed 
but for the advantageous posting of the regiment behind down- 
thrown fences and two or three log-cabins on the edge of the 
orchard above referred to, and for the protection afibrded it by 
a gully on the left of the Hamburg road. Most of this time the 
line was less than five hundred yards distant from the rebels, 
who occupied a wooded knoll beyond the orchard. Colonel 
Grose led his regiment with absolutely reckless bravery; his 
horse was shot under him, and he afterward received a painful 
wound in the shoulder, which, however, did not disqualify him 



SHILOH. 267 

for command. The Twenty-fourth Ohio, under Lieutenant- 
Colonel Jones, fought on the right of the Thirty-sixth Indi- 
ana, under nearly similar circumstances. 

Early in the day. General Nelson designated the Sixth Ohio 
as a reserve. Between eight and nine o'clock, at which time 
the enemy was bringing a tremendous pressure to bear upon 
Bruce and Hazen, on Am men's right, it was ordered into po- 
sition to take the rebels in flank, should they execute their 
threatened charge. Under a heavy fire, the regiment accord- 
ingly "changed front forward on first company" with beauti- 
ful precision, such as won for it many encomiums then and 
subsequently. The danger on the riglit having passed away, 
the battalion was restored to its original position by a " change 
perpendicularly to the rear," and was soon afterward ordered 
to the support of Terrill's battery, where it remained for nearly 
three hours, the men lying flat upon the ground, while storms 
of shot and shrapnel flew over them. Here one man was 
wounded, and Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson was struck in the 
arm by a spent ball. The few remaining casualties occurred 
among the skirmishers. At the critical hour of eleven o'clock, 
when Terrill was suffering fearfully, and his safety seemed im- 
periled. General Nelson rode up to the Sixth Ohio : " Colonel 
Anderson," said he, "I have conferred upon your regiment 
the honor of defending this battery, the best in the service. It 
must not be taken/" Says an officer, writing home afterward, 
" I thought I could see those same words written on the face 
of every man in the line." By twelve o'clock, Terrill had lost 
so heavily that he could no longer man all his guns. In this 
emergency, Nelson called for volunteers from the Sixth Ohio. 
Company A had been exercised in artillery drill at Beverly, 
but that was more than seven months before, and the men were 
wholly out of practice; nevertheless, they responded eagerly. 



268 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

Captain Terrill, himself the highest type of a true and chival- 
rous nature, did not forget the service which the Sixth Ohio 
rendered him at Shiloh. The following letter, in his own 
handwriting, was only one among many other grateful recog- 
nitions of it : 

Battle-field of Shiloh, near Pittsburg Landing, ) 
April 10th, 1862. J 

Captain : I have the honor to call the attention of the 
General commanding the Fourth Division to the names of the 
privates of Captain Westcott's company, "A," Sixth Ohio Volun- 
teers, who came forward first to man my guns, when called upon. 
Their names are as follows : 

H. Petty, James Moore, H. Herman, 

R. G. Delaney, B. P. Critehell, H. Walter Wilson, 

J. A. Gushing, K. N. Cowing, C. Roth, 

W. W. Paddock. 
I am, sir, etc., 

WM. R. TERRILL, 

Captain Fifth Artillery, and Chief of Arfy, Second Division. 

Captain J. M. Kendrick, A. A. G., ) 

Head-quarters Fourth Division. I 

This letter was transmitted to the head-quarters of the Sixth 
Ohio, with tlie following indorsement by General Nelson, in his 
own handwriting: "I wish Colonel Anderson to read this 
letter and the names of the soldiers mentioned therein, on 
dress parade. Their gallantry is only what I expected from 
the Sixth Ohio, and is illustrative of the good conduct of that 
regiment on all occasions." 

It was an interesting circumstance to many of the troops 
thus complimented, that Lieutenant Israel Ludlow, of Terrill's 
battery, was originally a member of the Sixth Ohio, having 
been discharged from Company A, to accept promotion in the 



SHILOH. 269 

regular army, a few days before the regiment took the field. 
Commanding his section with great efficiency and self-posses- 
sion, Lieutenant Ludlow's tall figure and ringing tones of com- 
mand made him a conspicuous actor in the struggle on the 
left. 

About 1 P. M., the Sixth Ohio was ordered into place in 
the line of battle, and took part soon afterward in the final 
charge of the division, led by General Nelson in person, which 
drove the rebels out of the old camp of Stuart's brigade (of 
Sherman's division) in precipitate retreat along the " Bark 
Road" to Corinth. Upon the right the battle was still raging, 
but the firing soon began to slacken in that direction also, and 
by four o'clock it had died entirely away. Passing through 
Stuart's camp, which was in much worse condition than Hurl- 
but's, the Fourth Division moved out the Hamburg road to 
the vicinity of the ford over Lick Creek, where the jaded 
troops went into bivouac and slept upon their arms in a cold 
rain till morning. At 3 A. M., they were roused to make 
ready for any movement that the report of scouts might ren- 
der advisable. It was soon ascertained that the rebels were 
still retreating, whereupon Am men's brigade returned to Stu- 
art's camps, and heavy details began the work of burying the 
dead and clearing away the debris of battle. In all, one hun- 
dred and twenty rebels were buried along the front of the 
Tenth Brigade. 

The casualties of the Sixth Ohio at the battle of Shiloh were 
as follows: 

Company A. — Private James B. Fairchild, wounded. 
" B. " John Logue, missing. 
« C. " William Boyd, wounded. 
" D. " George Richarter, wounded. 



270 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

Company F.— Private William Brocksmitli, killed, and Corporal 
Frederick Finer, wounded. 
<« I. " Heinrich Nortman, killed. 

Private Nortman was one of the guards detailed to remain 
at Savanna in charge of the baggage, but the brave fellow 
pleaded so hard to go to the battle-field that permission was 
at last given him to do so. He came up on a transport dur- 
ing Sunday night, and the next forenoon was instantly killed 
while skirmishing at the extreme front. 



J, 1862.1 



GENERAL BUELL'S OFFICIAL REPORT. (Extracts.) 

Head-quarters Army of the Ohio, 
Field of Shiloh, April 15, 

Captain N. H. McLain, Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of the Mis- 
sissippi : 

Sir : The rear divisions of the army under my command, which 
had been delayed a considerable time in rebuilding the Duck River 
bridge, left Columbia on the second instant. I left the evening 
of that day, and arrived at Savanna on the evening of the fifth. 
General Nelson, with his division, which formed the advance, ar- 
rived the same day. The other divisions marched with intervals 
of about six miles. On the morning of the sixth, firing of mus- 
ketry and cannon was heard in the direction of this place. Ap- 
prehending that a serious engagement had commenced, I went to 
General Grant's head-quarters to get information as to the means 
of reaching the battle-field with the division that had arrived. At 
the same time orders were dispatched to the divisions in rear to 
leave their trains, and push forward by forced marches. I learned 
that General Grant had just started, leaving orders for General 
Nelson to march to the river opposite Pittsburg Landing, to be 
ferried across. An examination of the road up the river discov- 
ered it to be impracticable for artillery, and General Nelson was 
directed to leave his, to be carried forward by steamer. 



SHILOH. 271 

The impression existed at Savanna tliat the firing was merely an 
affair of outposts, the same thing having occurred on two or three 
previous days ; but, as it continued, I determined to go to the 
scene of action, and accordingly started with my chief of staff, 
Colonel Fry, on a steamer, which I ordered to get under steam. 
As we proceeded up the river, groups of soldiers were seen upon 
the west bank, and it soon became evident that they were strag- 
glers from the engaged army. The groups increased in size and 
frequency, until, as we approached the landing, they numbered 
whole companies, and almost regiments; and at the landing the 
banks swarmed with a confused mass of men of various regiments. 
There could not have been less than four or five thousand. Late 
in the day, it became much greater. Finding General Grant at 
the landing, I requested him to send steamers to Savanna to 
bring up General Crittenden's division, which had arrived during 
the morning, and then went ashore with him. The throng of dis- 
organized and demoralized troops was increased continually By 
fresh fugitives from the battle, which steadily drew nearer the 
landing, and with these were intermingled great numbers of 
teams, all striving to get as near as possible to the river. With 
few exceptions, all efforts to form the troops, and move them for- 
ward to the fight, utterly failed. 

In the meantime the enemy had made such progress against our 
troops, that his artillery and musketry began to play into the vital 
spot of the position, and some persons were killed on the bank, at 
the very landing. General Nelson arrived, with Colonel Ammen's 
brigade, at this opportune moment. It was immediately posted 
to meet the attack at that point, and with a battery of artillery, 
wbich happened to be on the ground and was brought into action, 
opened fire on the enemy and repulsed him. The action of the 
gunboats also contributed very materially to that result. The at- 
tack at that point was not renewed. Night having come on, the 
firing ceased on both sides. In the meantime the remainder of 
General Nelson's division crossed, and General Crittenden's arrived 



272 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

from Savanna by steamers. After examining tlie ground, as well 
as was possible at night, in front of the line on wbieh General 
Grant's troops had formed, and as far to the right as General Sher- 
man's division, I directed Nelson's and Crittenden's divisions to 
form in front of that line, and move forward as soon as it was 
light in the morning. During the night and early the following 
morning, Captain Bartlett's Ohio battery, and Captains Menden- 
hall's and Terrill's regular batteries arrived. General McCook, by 
a forced march, arrived at Savanna during the night of the sixth, 
and reached the field of battle early in the morning of the seventh. 
I knew that the other divisions could not arrive in time for the 
action that day. 



Soon after five o'clock on the morning of the seventh, General 
Nelson's and General Crittenden's divisions, the only ones yet ar- 
rived on the ground, moved promptly forward to meet the enemy. 
Nelson's division, marching in line of battle, soon came upon his 
pickets, drove them in, and at about six o'clock received the fire of 
his artillery. The division was here halted, then Mendenhall's 
battery brought into action to reply, while Crittenden's division 
was being put into position on the right of Nelson's. Bartlett's 
battery was posted in the center of Crittenden's division, in a com- 
manding position, opposite which the enemy was discovered to be 
in force. By this time McCook's division arrived on the ground, 
and was immediately formed on the right of Crittenden's. Skir- 
mishers were thrown to the front, and a strong body of them to 
guard our left flank, which, though somewhat protected by rough 
grounds, it was supposed the enemy might attempt to turn, and, in 

fact did, but was repulsed with great loss The 

force under my command occupied a line of about a mile and a 
half. In front of Nelson's division was an open field partially 
Bcreened to his right by a skirt of woods, which extended through 
the enemy's line, with a thick undergrowth in front of the left 



SHILOH. 273 

brigade of Crittenden's division ; then an open field in front of 
Crittenden's right and McCook's left, and in front of McCook's 
right, woodvS again with a dense undergrowth. The ground, mainly 
level in front of Nelson's division, formed a hollow in front of Crit- 
tenden's, and fell into a small creek, which empties into Owl Creek, 
in front of McCook's. What I afterward learned was the Ham- 
burg road, which crosses Lick Creek a mile from its mouth, passed 
perpendicularly through the line of battle, near Nelson's left. On 
a line slightly oblique to us, and beyond the open field, the enemy 
was formed, with a battery in front of Nelson's left; a battery com- 
manding the woods in front of Crittenden's left, and flanking the 
field in front of Nelson; a battery commanding the same woods 
and the field in front of Crittenden's right and McCook's left, and 
a battery in front of McCook's right. A short distance in the rear 
of the enemy's left, on high open ground, were the encampments 
of McClernand's and Sherman's divisions, which the enemy held. 

The obliquity of our line, upon the left being 

thrown forward, brought Nelson's first into action, and it became 
very hotly engaged at an early hour. A charge of the Nineteenth 
Brigade, from Nelson's right, by its commander, Colonel Hazen, 
reached the enemy's second battery; but the brigade sustained a 
heavy loss by a cross-fire of the enemy's batteries, and was unable 
to maintain its advantage against the heavy infantry force that 
came forward to oppose it. The enemy recovered the battery, and 
followed up his advantage by throwing a heavy force of infantry 
into the woods in front of Crittenden's left. The left brigade of 
that division. Colonel W. S. Smith commanding, advanced into the 
woods, repulsed the enemy handsomely, and took several prisoners. 
In the meantime. Captain Terrill's battery, which had just landed, 
reached the field and was advanced into action near the left of 
Nelson's division, which was very heavily pressed by the great 
numbers of the enemy. It belonged properly to McCook's divi- 
sion. It took position near the Hamburg road, in the open ground 
in front of the enemy's right, and at once began to act with de- 
18 



27-4 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

cided effect upon the tide of battle in that quarter. The enemy's 
right battery was silenced. 

Ammen's brigade, which was on the left, advanced in good order 
upon the enemy's right, but was cheeked for some time by his en- 
deavor to turn our left flank, and by his strong center attack in frout. 
Captain Terrill, who, in the meantime, had taken an advanced posi- 
tion, was compelled to retire, leaving one caisson, of which every 
horse was killed or disabled. It was very soon recovered. Having 
been reenforced by a regiment [the Nineteenth Ohio] from Gen- 
eral Boyle's brigade [of Crittenden's division], Nelson's division 
again moved forward, and forced the enemy to abandon entirely 
his position. This success flanked the enemy at his second and 
third batteries, from which he was soon driven, with the loss of 
several pieces of artillery, by the concentrated fire of Terrill's and 
Mendenhall's batteries, and an attack from Crittenden's position in 
front. The enemy made a second stand some eight hundred yards 
in rear of this position, and opened fire with his artillery. Men- 
denhall's battery was moved forward, silenced the battery, and it 
was captured by Crittenden's division, the enemy retreating from it. 

[After giving an account of the operations of General McCook's 
division, and mentioning, in complimentary terms, Wagner's bri- 
gade, of General T. J. Wood's division, which continued the pursuit 
of the enemy for about a mile, General Buell proceeds :] 

The pursuit was continued no further that day. I was without 
cavalry, and the different corps had become a good deal scattered 
in a pursuit in a country which secreted the enemy's movements, 
and of the roads of which I knew practically nothing. In the be- 
ginning of the pursuit, thinking that the enemy had retired prin- 
cipally by the Hamburg road, I had ordered Nelson's division to 
follow as far as Lick Creek, on that road, from which I afterward 
learned the direct Corinth road was separated by a difiicult ravine, 
which empties into Lick Creek. I therefore occupied myself with 
examining the ground, and getting the different divisions into po- 



SHILOH. 275 

/ 

sition, which was not effected until some time after dark 

There were no idlers in the battle of the 7th. Every portion of 
the army did its work. The batteries of Captains Terrill and 
Mendenhall were splendidly handled and served. 

[The report then names several officers, " specially commended 
to the favor of the Government for their distinguished gallantry 
and good conduct," among whom are the following: Brigadier- 
General William Nelson, commanding Fourth Division; Brigadier- 
General T. L. Crittenden, commanding Fifth Division; Colonel 
Jacob Ammen, Twenty-fourth Ohio, commanding Tenth Brigade ; 
Colonel W. S. Smith, Thirteenth Ohio, commanding Fourteenth 
Brigade ; Captain W. R. Terrill, Fifth Artillery ; and Captain 
John Mendenhall, Fourth Artillery.] 

The loss of the force under my command is two hundred and 
sixty-three killed, one tliousand eight hundred and sixteen wounded, 
and eighty-eight missing. Total, two thousand one hundred and 
sixty-seven. The trophies are twenty pieces of artillery, a greater 
number of caissons, and a considerable number of small arms. Many 
of the cannon were recaptured from the loss of the previous day. 
Several stands of colors were also recaptured. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

D. C. BUELL, 

Major-General, Commanding Army of the Ohio. 



GENERAL NELSON'S OFFICIAL REPORT. 

Head-quarters Fourth Division, ") 

Field of Battle, April 10, 1862. J 

Captain : In obedience to order, I have to report that the 
Fourth Division of the Army of the Ohio, under my command, 
left Savanna, by order of General Grant, reiterated in person by 
General Buell, at 1.30 P. M., of Sunday, April 6th, and marched 
by land to the point opposite Pittsburg Landing. The anxiety of 



276 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

the men to take part in tlie battle whicli was going on on tlie left 
bank of the river, enabled me to achieve the distance, notwithstand- 
ing the dreadful condition of the road over a lately-overflowed bot- 
tom, in four hours. At five o'clock, tlie head of my column marched 
up the bank of Pittsburg Landing, and took up its position in the 
road, under the fire of the rebel artillery, so close had they ap- 
proached the landing. I found a semicircle of artillery, totally 
unsupported by infantry, whose fire was the only check to the 
audacious advance of the enemy. The Sixth Ohio and Thirty- 
sixth Indiana had hardly deployed when the left of our artillery 
was completely turned by the enemy, and the gunners fled from 
their pieces. The gallantry of the Thirty-sixth Indiana, supported 
by the Sixth Ohio, under the able conduct of Colonel Ammen, 
commanding the Tenth Brigade, drove back the enemy, and re- 
stored the line of battle. This was at 6.30 P. M., and soon after 
the enemy withdrew, owing, I suppose, to the darkness. 

I found cowering under the river bank, when I crossed, from 
seven to ten thousand men, frantic with fright and utterly de- 
moralized, who received my gallant division with cries of "we're 
whipped," "cut to pieces," etc. They were insensible to shame 
and sarcasm, for I tried both on them, and, indignant at such pol- 
troonery, I asked permission to open fire upon the knaves. 

By 7 P. M. the infantry of my division was all across the river, 
and took up their position as follows : Colonel Amman's brigade 
— consisting of the Thirty-sixth Indiana, Colonel Grose ; Sixth Ohio, 
Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson ; and Twenty-fourth Ohio, Lieutenant- 
Colonel Jones — took post on the left. On the right of them, Bruce's 
brigade was posted, consisting of the First Kentucky, Colonel Enyart ; 
Second Kentucky, Colonel Sedgwick ; Twentieth Kentucky, Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Hanson. On the right of Colonel Bruce's brigade, the 
brigade of Colonel Hazen was posted, composed of the Ninth In- 
diana, Colonel Moody; Sixth Kentucky, Colonel Whittaker ; Forty- 
first Ohio, Lieutenant-Colonel Mygatt. Heavy pickets were imme- 
diately thrown well forward, and every precaution taken to prevent 



SHILOH. 277 

surprise during the niglit. These dispositions were made by the 
direction and under the supervision of General Buell, who gave me 
orders to move forward and attack the enemy at the earliest dawn. 
The night passed away without serious alarm. The men lay on 
their arms. . 

Lieutenant Gwin, of the navy, commanding the gunboats in 
the river, sent to me and asked if he could be of any service. I 
requested that he would throw an eight-inch shell into the camp 
of the enemy every ten minutes during the night, and thus pre- 
vent their sleeping, which he did very scientifically, and, accord- 
ing to the reports of the prisoners, to their infinite annoyance. 

At 4 A. M. I roused up the men quietly, by riding along the 
lines, and when the line of battle was dressed, the skirmishers 
•well out and the reserve in position, I sent an aid to the General 
to notify him that I was ready to commence the action, where- 
upon the Fourth Division of the Army of the Ohio, in perfect 
order, as if on drill, moved forward toward the enemy. At 5.30 
I found the enemy, and the action began with vigor. My division 
drove them with ease, and I followed them up rapidly, when, at 
G A. M., I was halted by commands from General Buell, I having 
gone further forward than I should have done, my right flank 
heing exposed. The enemy was greatly reenforced in front of me, 
and at 7 A. M. my advance, which had been resumed by order of 
General Buell, was checked. At 7.30 my division began to give 
ground slowly. We were exposed to the fire of two of the enemy's 
batteries, and I had no artillery. You are aware that, owing to 
the want of transportation, I was compelled to leave j;hree bat- 
teries of my division at Savanna. I asked for artillery to support 
my infantry. General Buell sent to my aid the battery of Captain 
Mendenhall, of the regular army, belonging to General Crittenden's 
division, the well-directed fire of which gave my division refreshing 
relief. After 8 A. M. the firing of the enemy was tremendous. They 
had again been largely reenforced on this point. General Buell, 
who rode along the line at this time, saw for himself the behavior 



278 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

of the Fourth Division. The style in which Colonel Ammen handled 
his brigade excited my admiration. Colonel Hazen, commanding 
the ri"-ht brigade of the division carried it into action and main- 
tained it there most gallantly. The heavy loss of his brigade at- 
tests the fierceness of the conflict at this point. He drove the 
enemy, captured the battery that so distressed us, but was forced 
back on his reserves. 

The powerful reenforceraents which the enemy had again re- 
ceived, made the woodland in front of us at times a sheet of 
flame, and compelled me at 9 A. M. again to ask for support. 
The General sent to my aid Captain Terrill's battery of regular 
artillery. This battery was a host within itself. It consisted of 
four 12-pounder brass guns, and two 10-pounder Parrott guns. Its 
fire was terrific. It was handled superbly. Where Captain Terrill 
turned his battery silence followed on the part of the enemy. Cap- 
tains Terrill and Mendenhall and the oflScers and soldiers of their 
batteries are entitled to the thanks of the Fourth Division. The 
Nineteenth Ohio, Colonel Beatty, attached to General Crittenden's 
division, also came to my support. This regiment was ably 
handled and rendered eflScient service. 

At 1 P. M., by direction of General Buell, I ordered the divis- 
ion to move with arms trailed, at "double quick" on the rising 
ground in front, held by the enemy, which the latter with much 
promptness abandoned to our use. The firing now diminished 
much along the front of the division, but was at 2 P. M. renewed 
on the right, on McCook's and Crittenden's divisions, with great 
fury. The Fourth Division had no more trouble during the ac- 
tion, the attacks oil it being feeble and easily repulsed. They 
ceased entirely at 4 P. M. 

I desire to call the attention of the General commanding the 
Army of the Ohio, to the distinguished conduct of Colonel Jacob 
Ammen, of the Twenty-fourth Ohio, commanding the Tenth Bri- 
gade. The cool, wary, and vigilant manner in which he fought his 
brigade, protecting all the while the left flank of the army, gave 



SHILOH. 279 

me a profitable lesson in the science of battles. To Colonel Ha- 
zen, commanding the Nineteenth Brigade, I beg also to invite the 
General's attention. The gallantry with which he led his troops 
to the attack was most conspicuous, and he handled them ably. 
During the long and bloody action, the fortitude of the Fuurth 
Division was severely tried, pressed, as it was, by such superior 
numbers, but it maintained itself gloriously. ' 

I refer the General to the reports of the brigade commanders 
for the part each regiment took in the action, reserving to myself 
only to say that, during the action, I rode up and thanked the Ninth 
Indiana for its gallantry, and that the Sixth Ohio and Twentieth 
Kentucky were posted by to cover the artillery. This important 
and arduous duty they performed perfectly, sustaining, during the 
greater part of this long day, with the coolness of veterans, the fire 
of the enemy, without being permitted to return it. 

The loss of the division, I regret to inform you, is heavy. It 
went into action 4,541 strong, of whom 6 officers and 84 men were 
killed; 33 officers and 558 men wounded ; and 58 enlisted men miss- 
ing; making a total loss of 739, more than half of which occurred 
in Hazen's brigade. 

I would recommend to your attention the officers of my stafi^, 
who did their duty well on the field; they are Captain J. Mills 
Kendrick, A. A. G. ; Assistant Surgeon Irwin, regular army, 
medical inspector; Captain Chandler, A. Q. M.; Lieutenant Peck, 
Sixth Ohio, A. C. S. ; Lieutenants W. P. Anderson, Sixth Ohio, 
and R. Southgate, Sixth Ohio, aids-de-camp; A. Preston Graves, 
Esq., volunteer aid-de-camp; H. N. Fisher, volunteer aid-de-camp; 
Lieutenant B. J. Horton, Twenty-fourth Ohio Volunteers, ordnance 
officer. The energy of Lieutenant Horton, in bringing up ammu- 
nition, was conspicuous. 

I have the honor to be, etc., 

WILLIAM NELSON, 

Brigadier-General Volunteers, commanding Fourth Division. 
Captain J. B. Fry, Chief op Staff. 



280 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 



LETTERS FROM REV. J. MILLS KENDRICK.* 

FoKT Scott, Kansas, January 28, 1868. 

Dear Sir: Your letter was received two days ago, and I take 
great pleasure in replying. I think that I can give you some in- 
formation which will be of service. An extract from General 
Badcau's book recently came to my notice, in the columns of the 
Cincinnati Gazette, and it occurred to me that perhaps I ought to 
write to him, giving such information as I possess concerning the 
delay which he charges as remissness upon General Nelson, in 
marching from Savanna to Pittsburg Landing. My position in 
the army was that of assistant adjutant-general, with the rank of 
captain ; and at the time of the events to be referred to, I was 
serving on the staff of General Nelson. 

During the morning of Sunday, April 6, 1862, General Nelson 
directed me to take his cavalry escort, and go up to a point oppo- 
site Pittsburg Landing, and ascertain whether a passable road could 
be found for the division. I remember he complained that no in- 
formation had been given, or could be given (I do not recollect 
which was the expression) upon this point, in connection with 
orders which he had received. At this time we were camped a 
short distance back of Savanna. The very indefinite information 
which could be obtained from the citizens of the place, who were 
not inclined to assist our inquiries, left it in doubt whether the 
roads up the river were at all passable. My instructions were to 
go up by a road parallel to the river, at a short distance from it, 
and to return along the river's bank. These directions were car- 
ried out with all possible dispatch, and we were at the head-quarters 
of the division, upon our return, by twelve o'clock, having killed 
several horses and left behind a number of men in our haste to exe- 

* This gentleman (a son of Professor John Kendrick, of Marietta, O., 
College, and formerly General Nelson's adjutant-general) is now rector 
of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Fort Scott, Kansas. 



SHILOH. 281 

cute orders. Our report was that the river road was entirely im- 
passable, being obstructed by swollen streams, but that the other 
road was practicable, except for artillery. My impression is that 
these roads led through a marshy country, and that recent rains 
had been rendering our progress very laborious for several days. 
The event thus justified the General's precaution. Had we moved 
by the river road, we could not have reached the lauding that 
night. There was reason to fear that the other road would be 
fouud in the same condition, and had we started on it with our 
artillery (which, of course, General Nelson was very anxious to 
take with him) our march would have been very much delayed. 
The division was put in motion immediately upon our return, and 
there was not a moment lost on the march up the river, as there 
are many to testify. 

I can not say exactly at what time in the morning I received 
my orders, nor precisely how long it took to execute them; 
nor do I know at what hour General Nelson received his orders, 
nor definitely what they were. No papers relating to this matter, 
that I remember, were ever filed in my office. I can not say whether 
General Nelson moved under orders from General Grant or General 
Buell. My impression is that there was an expectation, as late as 
the time that I left camp to explore the roads, that transports 
might be sent to take us up the river, and I know there was such 
an expectation for some considerable time that morning. I did 
not happen to be present at any of the interviews between Generals 
Grant, Buell, and Nelson. 

My recollection is positive as to the facts that, upon reaching 
the poiflt opposite Pittsburg Landing, no transports were ready to 
receive us, and that General Nelson had almost to compel the cap- 
tain of a steamer (who pleaded that he had no orders to that effect) 
to take over his first regiment. Colonel Grose's. My recollection is 
very distinct in regard to the fact that the distressing question with 
General Nelson all that Sunday morning was, how he was to get 
his division up to Pittsburg Landing. Those who were about the 



282 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

General that day will be disposed to smile at the charge of tardiness 
broucfht against him. With our utmost exertions, we could not 
execute his orders speedily enough, and frequently we received his 
rebukes for not accomplishing impossibilities. 

I believe that I have answered all your questions as far as I can 
answer them, and if it is possible for me to further assist you in 
your work, you can certainly command my services. The Sixth 
Ohio was a favorite^ regiment with General Nelson, and was always 
distinguished for its soldierly appearance and gallant conduct. 
I am, very respectfully, .etc., 

J. M. KENDRICK. 



FoKT ScoTT, Kansas, March 31, 1868. 

Dear Sir : . . . I have looked over what I wrote to you on 
the 28th of January, and do not think that any of my statements 
ought to be modified. The order which you quote in your letter 
of February 10th, as given by General Badeau in a foot-note, 
I had never before seen. The statement of that order, that 
General Nelson could easily obtain a guide in the village, did 
not, I think, turn out to be correct; although, at this distance of 
time, I can not, of course, give the precise authority for the very 
strong impression I have that efforts to obtain reliable information 
in this way had failed before the order was given to examine the 
roads. General Nelson complained very bitterly of the lack of 
information which embarrassed him, and it is most likely that I 
had it from him that reliable information could not be obtained in 
the village. No guide "was sent with me ; I was left to find my 
way from a few general directions. 

The charge that there was culpable delay on the part of Gen- 
eral Nelson in marching to Pittsburg Landing, is so utterly opposed 
to all my recollections of those events, that it seems to me a very 
great injustice. Since it has come to my knowledge that the charge 
had been made (and my first knowledge of it was from the extract 



SHILOH. 283 

from General Badeau's work, in the Cincinnati Gazette), I have 
often reviewed the incidents of that day, and can recall nothing 
which suggests even a suspicion that any delay was intended or 
desired. Such conduct would have been so thoroughly repugnant 
to the General's sense of honor and duty, and so inconsistent with 
every thing else that I know of him, during a service under him, 
in one capacity or another, of nearly a year, that I am persuaded 
the allegation is entirely unfounded. 

I am, very respectfully, etc., 

J. M. KENDRICK. 
GENERAL BUELL'S TESTIMONY. 

Since the foregoing pages were stereotyped, (in fact, on the very 
eve of putting this work to press,) the writer has had the gratifi- 
cation of seeing an autograph letter from General Buell, dated 
July 6, 1868, in which occurs the following emphatic testimony: 
" With reference to the movement of the Fourth Division to Pitts- 
burg Lauding, on the 6th of April [1862], it may be positively 
asserted that there was substantial and ample cause for whatever 
delay occurred in starting. Every man who marched under the 
banners of that splendid division, will feel that there was, whether 
the proofs are adduced or not ; and any attempt to cast reproach 
upon it or its able commander in that particular, will be regarded 
as an unworthy contrivance. The war, from first to last, brought 
forward no ofiieer more deservedly distinguished than General Nel- 
son for great promptness and energy in the discharge of duty, 
either in or out of battle." 

[Note. — The writer was at great pains and some pecuniary outlay in 
the endeavor to procure copies of Colonel Amiuen's and Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Anderson's official reports of the battle of Shiloh, but without success. 
Neither of those officers preserved them, and they are probably not now 
ill existence, save among the files of the War Department, which (properly 
enough, perhaps,) are not accessible to any one unless he comes provided 
with the "open sesame" of political influence or personal favoritism. 
Captain Phil. F. Wiggins once had all the official reports of the Tenth 
Brigade in his possession, but was heedless enough to lose them.] 



284 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 



CHAPTER XX. 

THE ADVANCE UPON CORINTH. 

(APRIL 8-MAY 2^, 1862.) 

ALTHOUGH the Sixth Ohio escaped with marvelously 
few casualties at Shiloh, Dr. Stephens, so far from finding 
his position a sinecure, was kept hard at work for several days, 
in attending the wounded of other commands, especially the 
surgical cases, and for his faithfulness and efficiency received the 
warm praise of his superiors, and a most complimentary men- 
tion in the official report of Surgeon Murray, medical director 
on tlie staff of General Buell. " About 9 P. M., on the even- 
ing that we crossed the river," says Dr. Stephens,* "Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Anderson ordered me to take charge of the old 
log-house on the top of the bluff [the same building, as it 
would appear, that General Grant had occupied during the day 
as headrquarters], and there organize our regimental hospital, 
which was accordingly done, and the place made as comfort- 
able as its bare walls and our scanty supplies would permit. 

* Private MS. The reader should bear in mind that Dr. Stephens' ac- 
count rehites to a period of the war when the medical department was in 
a very imperfect state of organization, and nine-tenths of the practitioners 
in the field were totally inexperienced in army surgery. More than this, 
the conflict was precipitated so unexpectedly upon the Union forces as to 
preclude any adequate preparation for its emergencies. 



THE ADVANCE UPON CORINTH. 285 

About eleven o'clock my attention was called to some general 
and a staff officer seated close together on the top of two empty 
barrels that stood in the middle of one of the rooms. I thonglit 
it a strange place for them, and was still more surj^rised a few 
minutes afterward to hear the staff officer address his com- 
panion as General Grant. Both officers appeared to be much 
dejected, (as was my impression at the time,) very little con- 
versation, however, being carried on between them. Several 
times during the night, guns and pistols were fired close around 
the building by some of the demoralized troops at the landing. 
This appeared to annoy the General greatly, and once or twice 
1 he left his seat on the barrel, and, going to the door, cried at 
the top of his voice, ' Stop that firing ! ' Once, on returning 
to his companion, he said, ' The cowards ! if they were to get 
their deserts, the first thing to be done in the morning would 
be to take a cannon and shell them out from there.' The pair 
occupied their positions on top of the barrels, ' grand, gloomy, 
and peculiar,' until daylight of INIonday morning, when they 
disappeared as mysteriously as they came. 

" The battle was renewed as soon as it was light enough to 
see, and the vicinity of our old house becoming -crowded with 
wounded men. Surgeon Hewitt, of General Grant's staff, rode up 
and ordered the building converted into a general hospital, for 
the reception of the wounded without reference to the commands 
to which they might belong. He also directed me to remain in 
charge of it, and stated that he would send thither a number 
of surgeons, with needed supplies, etc., none of which reached 
us, however, until next day. On Monday evening Surgeon 
Murray, General Buell's medical director, called at the hos- 
pital, and, by his kind encouragement and deep sympathy for 
the wounded, did much to cheer the hearts of all. He at once 
set out to seek assistance, but, although he soon had several 



286 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

more surgeons on the ground, most of them seemed to be seized 
with 'a masterly inactivity.' They would look on for a 
short time, or, perhaps, dress two or three of the slightly 
wounded, and then suddenly take their leave. Thus, during my 
first day's experience in a great battle, I had all the capital 
operations to perform alone, my only assistants being Hospital 
Steward Charles E. Lewis, of the Sixth Ohio, and two nurses. 
By 2 P. M., every part of the old house was occupied with 
prostrate forms, and yet the door was surrounded with ambu- 
lances loaded with wounded men. To make room for these 
I removed the bodies of such as had already died, and laid 
them in tiers outside the building. 

" Mr. Lewis, the nurses, and myself were up all of Monday 
night, doing what we could to alleviate the sufferings of our 
patients, and early next morning were gladdened by the re- 
appearance of Surgeon Murray, through whose exertions we 
soon had to our assistance Surgeons Gay and Worth, and also 
five men as. cooks and nurses. By his orders, the ambulances 
that had been sent in during the night, loaded with wounded, 
were ordered to the river bank where the sufferers were trans- 
ferred as carefully as possible to a steamboat that he had pre- 
pared for them. As nine-tenths of the wounded were yet on 
the field, however. Dr. Murray next directed his efforts toward 
securing some means of shelter for them, when they should be 
brought back, and by noon had two or three tents pitched 
close to our hut. They were quickly filled, and then we were 
obliged to place the men on the bare ground, without shelter 
of any kind. With his utmost authority. Dr. Murray could 
not procure enough tents for all our wounded, many of whom, 
in consequence, had to lie on the wet ground exposed to a 
drizzling rain throughout that day and night, some of thera 
with not even a blanket to cover their stiffening forms. By 



THE ADVANCE UPON COEINTH. 287 

Wednesday the scene was sickening indeed. The mangled 
bodies of the dead and dying, the amputated limbs, the frag- 
ments of flesh, and the puddles of blood and muddy water, as 
the sufferers lay scattered around the old house, sent up a stench 
that was absolutely appalling. Yet we did not succeed in get- 
ting a detail of men sufficient to bury the dead until Friday, 
when General Grant caused to be sent to us a company of an 
Illinois regiment, and by night we had buried in one trench 
eighty-seven of our brave boys, Avith no coffins, but merely 
wrapped in their gray blankets, in which they still 

'Sleep the sleep that knows no waking! ' " 

After having been upon his feet almost constantly for seven 
days and nights. Dr. Stephens was placed in charge of a steam- 
boat load of wounded, whom he saw duly bestowed in the 
various hospitals of Cincinnati, and when he returned to the 
front, found the Sixth Ohio moving well up toward Corinth. 

In the advance upon Corinth, which, by General Halleck's 
excessive caution and absurd adherence to the methods of a 
regular siege, was rendered slow and laborious in the extreme, 
the Sixth Ohio bore its full share of duty in picketing and 
reconnoitering the front, protecting fitigue parties, construct- 
ing breastworks, etc. Its services and its surroundings in gen- 
eral, during this period, can be most succinctly presented in 
diary form, somewhat as follows : 

April 8th, Tuesday. — Heavy burial parties began their work 
all over the field of Shiloh. The body of an elderly man, in 
plain clothing, was brought to General Nelson's tent, as the 
corpse of General Albert Sidney Johnston, and was buried as 
such. Captain Russell, of the Sixth Ohio, superintending the 
interment. Company D planted a head-board and enclosed the 



288 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

grave with a miniature paling- fence, made from cracker-boxes; 
and it was several weeks before the troops could be satis- 
fied of the fact that the case was one of mistaken identity 
throughout. 

April 9th. — The troops were in line at 4 A. M., and, stand- 
ing to arms until after daylight, were visited by General 
Nelson, riding out to the picket lines. Admonished by the 
surprise of Grant's army on the 6th, the latter had been estab- 
lished with much care, at proper distances in advance of the 
camps and were very strong. During the next seven weeks 
every possible precaution continued to be exercised, picket duty, 
especially, being conducted with perfect system and thorough- 
ness ; and in these respects, as also in the important art of 
constructing field defenses, this period was one of most use- 
ful drill and discipline to the three armies concentrated under 
General Halleck before Corinth. 

April 12th. — Members of the Sanitary Commission, and 
others, began arriving from the North, with supplies, etc., for 
the wounded ; and during the week succeeding this date, the 
Sixth Ohio was visited by many Cincinnatians, who had come 
upon this mission of mercy. 

April 13th, Sunday. — General Halleck, who had reached 
Pittsburg Landing on the preceding day, assumed personal 
command of* the combined armies of the Ohio and Tennessee. 
The wagons of the Sixth Ohio came up from Savanna, but no 
tents were pitched, the regiment still remaining in bivouac near 
the old camp of the Seventy-first Ohio. Since the battle, the 
weather had been wet and raw. 

April 14th. — The Sixth Ohio underwent inspection by Cap- 
tain Gilbert, of General Halleck's staif. An expedition, dis- 
patched on steamers, to destroy the Bear Creek bridge, on the 
Memphis and Charleston railroad, was perfectly successful, and 



THE ADVANCE UPON CORINTH. 289 

was followed next day by an extended cavalry reconnoissance 
toward Corinth. 

April 15th. — General Nelson issued an order, for the prep- 
aration of "reports certified to, on honor, of the number of 
knapsacks lost in consequence of having been thrown aside by 
order of the commanding general, on the evening of the 6th 
of April, previous to entering the battle ; these reports to be 
forwarded to division head-quarters as soon as possible, the 
object being to have the articles replaced at Government ex- 
pense." In compliance with this order, Lieutenant- Colonel 
Anderson reported that the Sixth Ohio had lost sixty knap- 
sacks, in addition to which, many others had been rifled, and 
some surgeon or surgeons unknown had ordered a number of 
blankets to be unstrapped and taken for the wounded. Second 
liieutenant Gettier certified that the guard with which he had 
been left to watch the knapsacks, was at one time pressed into 
service to bury the dead. 

April 16th. — For the first time since the battle, the Sixth 
Ohio pitched a regular camp, in a pleasant piece of woodland, 
about one-third of a mile to the left of its former place of 
bivouac. The pickets of the Fourth Division were fired on at 
night, and again on the night following. . 

April 18th. — Regular drills were resumed throughout the 
division, and the Sixth Ohio held its first dress parade since 
leaving Savanna. General Nelson promulgated an order re- 
mitting "the sentences of the general court-martial, of which 
Colonel Hazen was president [held at Camp Andrew Jackson], 
in compliment to the gallant conduct of the comrades of the 
prisoners in the battle of the 6th and 7th of April." On the 
day previous, he had ordered the convening of another court- 
martial, with Colonel Whittaker, of the Sixth Kentucky, as 
president, and Major Christopher and Captain Erwin as a por- 
19 



290 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

tion of the detail for members. At this date, General Buell 
forbade the use of bass-drums with field music, and thence- 
forward taps were eitlier beaten on the snare-drums, or the 
appropriate bugle-call was substituted. 

April 20th, Sunday. — A dark and gloomy day, with show- 
ers of rain, and at night a cold mist. The whole of the Tenth 
Brigade was on picket, relieving the brigade of General Gar- 
field. Several shots were -fired during the night, in the direc- 
tion of the mounted videttes, beyond the chain of infantry 
outposts, but there was no general alarm. Upon the recom- 
mendation of the Medical Inspector of the division, General 
Nelson directed the issue of whisky to the troops, in rations 
of one-half gill twice a day, with the prudential injunction 
attached : " Colonels of regiments will be particularly careful 
in regard to the use of whisky." 

April 22d. — Following the example set by the division com- 
mander, Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson issued an order as fol- 
lows : " In consideration of the fact that the regiment has been 
on a long and fatiguing march since the regirnental court- 
martial was held at Camp Andrew Jackson, during which it 
was impossible to carry out the punishments then ordered, as 
well as the circumstances that the men then and there tried 
have behaved well while engaged in a long and fearful battle, 
the lieutenant-colonel commanding deems it but just and 
proper to remit the sentences of said court-martial, and order 
them to duty as heretofore. He admonishes them, however, 
to be careful for the future, and to disgrace neither themselves 
nor the regiment to which they belong by unsoldierly conduct 
hereafter." Upon this day, General Pope's army began arriv- 
ing from Island Number Ten and New Madrid, Mo., and took 
position on the left of the Army of the Ohio, extending the line 
in a direction nearly due south. 



THE ADVANCE UPOX CORINTH. 291 

April 24th. — Between 8 and 9 A. M., a member of the Sixth 
Ohio was wounded by the careless discharge of a musket in the 
hands of one of the old guards, whereupon General Nelson 
issued a stringent order for the discharge of loaded arms by 
volley, each morning, upon the relief of the previous day's de- 
tail. Colonel Bosley, having rejoined the regiment on the night 
of the 2 2d, from Nelson's Furnace, again assumed command of 
the Sixth Ohio, but in health so sadly shattered that, on the 
28th, General Buell granted him a sixty-days' sick-leave, from 
which he never returned to the front. Lieutenant-Colonel 
Anderson resumed command on the 26th. 

April 25th. — The Sixth Ohio was paid off by Major Lowry, 
for the two months ending February 28th. 

April 26th. — A reconnoissance in force was made by a de- 
tachment of Union troops as far as Pea Ridge, nearly half-way 
to Corinth, and a brief skirmish ensued at one of the advanced 
camps of the enemy, resulting in the capture of eight or ten 
rebels. 

April 27th, Sunday. — The " Independent Guthrie Grey As- 
sociation," of Cincinnati — a short-lived organization, composed 
principally of such old members of the Independent Guthrie 
Grey Battalion as had not taken the field — having tendered its 
assistance in caring for the sick and wounded, and burying the 
dead of the Sixth Ohio Regiment who might at any time be 
sent to that city, Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson, at this date, 
addressed a letter of thanks, etc., to Mr. Charles E. Thorp, 
Secretary of the Association, although the regiment was not 
then in need of the assistance so generously proffered. 

April 28th. — In the morning, General Halleck received a 
dispatch announcing the capture of New Orleans, and the news 
being immediately communicated to the troops, it was a day 
of universal rejoicing and exultation. Many of the r£giments 



292 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

■were called into line, and responded to the formal promulga- 
tion of the tidings with "nine cheers and a tiger." 

April 29th. — General Pope pushed forward a reconnoitering 
party to Monterey, a small village situated about four miles 
north of the Mississippi State line, and nine or ten miles from 
Corinth. He destroyed some baggage, took fifteen prisoners, 
and, for an hour, kept up a furious cannonading, which was 
distinctly heard to the remotest portions of the line. Five com- 
jjanies of Union cavalry had had a sharp little skirmish in the 
same vicinity the day before. 

On the 30th of April, General Halleck issued a field order, 
placing General Thomas in command of the right wing, con- 
sisting of that officer's own division (transferred, for the occa- 
sion, to the Army of the Tennessee, and commanded by T. W. 
Sherman) and the divisions of W. T. Sherman, Hurlbut, and 
Davis. General Grant was " retained in general command of the 
district of West Tennessee," including his old army corps ; but in 
the movement then making, was announced as second in com- 
mand, under General Halleck — a stroke of finesse, on the part 
of the latter, for virtually superseding a subordinate whose 
rising fame had previously excited his jealousy, but whom, 
although at this time under a heavy cloud, he dared not actu- 
ally displace. General Buell remained in command of the 
center, and General Pope of the left. When the lines had 
fairly developed, and, with painful labor, began their slow 
approach to Corinth, Nelson found himself on the left of 
McCook, with Crittenden filling the interval between himself 
and Pope. By this time, the Fourth Division had been 
strengthened by the Thirty-first Indiana and Seventeenth 
Kentucky, both of which regiments had fought at Donelson, 
under Lewis Wallace, and again at Shiloh, in Hurlbut's 



THE ADVANCE UPON COEINTH. 293 

division, losing many men in each battle ; and it had also been 
a gainer by the substitution of Mendenhall's regulars for Har- 
ris' Indiana Battery. The Seventeenth Kentucky, Colonel 
John H. McHenry commanding, Avas assigned to the Tenth 
Brigade. The latter still held the left of Nelson's division, and 
from the 2d to the 27th of May — or during Colonel Ammen's 
absence on sick leave — was commanded by Colonel Grose. 

On the 1st of May, the Array of the Ohio received orders as 
follows : "The army will at once be prepared for a rapid march, 
each soldier to carry three days' rations in his haversack, and 
the wagons four days' rations additional. The baggage will be 
limited to two tents for each company, for all purposes, the al- 
lowance of axes and spades, and such cooking utensils as are 
absolutely necessary. The soldiers will carry their blankets 
only, leaving their knapsacks in camp. One hundred and forty 
rounds of ammunition will be taken along — forty rounds in the 
cartridge-boxes and one hundred rounds in wagons, and on the 
eve of a battle, forty additional rounds will be issued each man, 
to be carried on the person." In this, there was promise of 
action — something "short, sharp, and decisive," as well suited 
the temper of the troops ; but, whatever may have been Buell's 
conceptions, the campaign, under Halleck's management, event- 
uated in the solemn farce of a four-weeks' siege. 

May 2d. — At 6 A. M., Nelson's division moved by the 
" Bark Eoad," toward Corinth, passing the camps of Wood and 
Thomas about three miles out. One mile beyond them, it took 
a new road on the left, corduroyed through a dense swamp, and 
at 2 P. M. went into bivouac on the Hamburg road, within ten 
miles of Corinth, and about the same distance from its last 
camping ground. In the afternoon a squad of General Nelson's 
body-guard discovered a rebel picket-post somewhere on the 



294 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

front, " surrounded it on two sides," (as the infantry repeated 
the story,) and succeeded in capturing one prisoner. The 
Sixth Ohio passed the night sleeping in line at the foot of their 
gun-stacks, in an old cotton-field on the left of the road. Com- 
panies E and K were on picket and could distinctly hear the 
rumbling of trains, the whistling of locomotives, etc., in the 
direction of Corinth, which gave rise to considerable specula- 
tion whether Beauregard was not evacuating that stronghold. 

May 3d. — Under the protection of Hazen's brigade and two 
pieces from Konkle's battery, strong working parties were sent 
forward about four miles to repair the roads, which the enemy 
permitted them to do without molestation. Between 4 and 5 
P. M., heavy cannonading was heard upon the left, being, in 
fact, a reconnoissance by General Pope ; and that night eighty 
rounds of cartridges were issued the troops. At this date. Gen- 
eral Buell forbade the use of all music, except for sounding the 
regular calls. 

May 5th. — Starting at 5 A. M., in the midst of a pouring 
rain, which had begun falling fifteen hours before, the division 
made a march of four miles, and passed the day resting in a 
low piece of woodland, while a heavy detail was repairing the 
roads, corduroying swamps, etc. It returned to camp after 
dark, the rain having ceased during the forenoon. 

May 6th. — Intelligence of the evacuation of Yorktown was 
received at night, and was followed by orders to draw five 
days' rations and march. 

May 7th. — The division changed camp about five miles 
southward to the State line, where "the men get water in 
Mississippi," as a private letter said, " and make their 
coffee in Tennessee." The country hereabouts was found to 
be a great improvement on that in the vicinity of Pittsburg 
Landing. 



THE ADVANCE UPON COEINTH. 295 

May 8th. — At an early hour the division was put under 
arms, with orders for the men to hold themselves in readiness 
to march, at any moment, to the support of General Pope, who 
was about making a reconnoissance through Farmington, as 
close up to Corinth as possible. At 11.30 A. M., it started, 
the Sixth Ohio in advance, with Major Christopher in charge 
of the skirmish line. It took a route through the woods, fol- 
lowing which south-westward five miles, about 3 P. M. it 
halted at Nichols' Ford — a point where one of the numberless 
wagon-paths to Corinth crosses a deep swamp — threw out a 
heavy picket, and began another extensive task of corduroy- 
ing. " There was a bright, crescent moon," says the diary of 
one of the Sixth Ohio pickets, " slightly obscured at times by 
the light and feathery clouds that were floating over the sky. 
Calm, quiet, and peaceful had nature made this summer night, 
but now it was disturbed by the presence and operations of 
armed hosts. Our videttes fired several times before nine 
o'clock, and somewhat later whole volleys of musketry broke 
out, in the direction of General Pope, upon our left; while the 
stroke of axes and the tramping of horses, in the swamp be- 
hind us, fell continually on our ears ; and pleasant sounds these 
latter were, though indicative of some urgency in our present 
movement. About 10 P. M., we were startled by the dull, 
heavy report of a siege-gun off to the southward. It was twice 
repeated, and then we thought of a night attack, M'ith all its 
confusion and horrors; but it ceased with the third gun, and 
afterward we learned that it was merely a signal." 

May 9th. — At 1 A. M., the pickets were called in, and the 
division returned to camp, thereby escaping a heavy flank at- 
tack, which, it was afterward ascertained, the rebels had pre- 
pared to deliver at daylight. At 10 A. M., a two hours' can- 
nonading began in the direction of Farmington, at which place 



296 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

two of Pope's brigades had become hotly engaged,* and 
whither Nelson's entire division was put in rapid motion at 
midday. The sounds of battle soon died entirely away, how- 
ever, and after marching in all about eight miles, the troops at 
sundown again moved forward to Nichols' Ford, and there 
went into bivouac, with six batteries of artillery in command- 
ing positions close by. 

May 10th. — A hot and summer-like day, improved by fur- 
ther reconnoitering ajid busy labor at the ford; in other re- 
spects, it passed in perfect and totally unexpected quiet. Late 
in the day, the Sixth Ohio moved into a wheat-field on the left 
of the road, and slept on the edge of the swamp, beyond which 
was the Thirty-sixth Indiana, on picket. " Another beautiful 
moonlight night," says the diary before quoted, " and almost 
undisturbed. Awakening from my first nap, about nine o'clock, 
the grand old strains of the " Star-spangled Banner" came waft- 
ing up from the southward, where it was being played by a 
brass band somewhere along the lines of General Pope. I 
thought I never had heard such delicious music; it sounded 
like enchantment." 

May 12th. — Being relieved by another command during the 
forenoon, the Tenth Brigade moved about one-third of a mile 
to the rear, and pitched camp in the woods on the left of the 
wagon road. 

May 13th. — The enemy's demonstrations beyond the ford 
were more bold than at any time previous, and the Sixth Ohio 
was ordered up, as support for the pickets, in case they should 
be attacked. 

* General Palmer, who succeeded to the command of Nelson's division 
a few months later, was a conspicuous actor in the battle of Farmington, 
and greatly distinguished himself He was then commanding the First 
Brigade, First Division, Army of the Mississippi (General Pope's). 



THE ADVANCE UPON CORINTH. 297 

May 14th. — In the afternoon several heavy guns were 
fired^ away to the right, but, with this exception, the day was 
very quiet. 

May 15th. — The weather was still oppressively hot. The 
Sixth Ohio had regimental drill before breakfast, and again 
during the forenoon; and in the afternoon one of the divisions 
on Nelson's right made another reconnoissance beyond the 
swamp. Between eleven and twelve o'clock at night, the di- 
vision was called out by a bugle alarm at head-quarters; at 
which the Sixth Ohio, turning out in full strength, formed in 
column, by divisions doubled on the center, and within five 
minutes was in position in the cleared field near the General's 
head-quarters, holding the right of the line occupied by the 
division. It lay there a full hour, in the dust and moonlight, 
and then returned to quarters. 

May 17th. — The Sixth Ohio was extended along the swamp, 
as the inner one of a double or treble line of pickets. About 
half an hour before sundown, Nelson's and the neighboring 
divisions made a rapid advance across the swamp, and about 
half a mile beyond, the rebel outposts falling back, firing as 
they went; and the regiment slept on its arms in an old corn- 
field behind a thick wood. The interval along the front, be- 
tween Nelson and Crittenden, was occupied by an open and 
slightly-rolling stretch of farming land. 

May 18th, Sunday. — Tents were brought up — three for each 
company — and pitched immediately, as the weather threatened 
rain. The pickets, in the woods and beyond, kept up an inces- 
sant firing all day. Scores of men from the Sixth Ohio and 
other regiments stole out to the front to take a hand in the 
skirmishing, on private account. One of the rebel pickets 
had an English weapon (as was inferred from the ball it 
carried), with a range of fifteen hundred yards, and with this 



298 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

he annoyed the Union outposts for several days with perfect 
impunity. 

May 19th. — At sunrise the Sixth Ohio was sent to the front, 
ahont half a mile distant, there relieving the Seventeenth Ken- 
tucky. Companies A and F were immediately deployed as 
skirmishers through the woods, and a wheat-field full of dead 
timber, while the rest of the regiment began throwing up 
breastworks, as part of General Halleck's system of field de- 
fenses, which extended in a nearly continuous line for ten or 
twelve miles. Picket firing was very brisk all day, the Sixth 
Ohio squads making good use of the bushwhacking tactics ac- 
quired during their Western Virginia campaigns; and in the 
afternoon it grew so heavy that Lieutenant Thatcher, by Gen- 
eral Nelson's order, was sent out to regulate it, and caution the 
men against wasting their ammunition. About 5 P. M. a 
rebel gun was run to the front, and, beginning a furious can- 
nonade, compelled the working parties to retire under shel- 
ter of the hill immediately in rear of the breastworks. Mean- 
time, Lieutenant Thatcher had ordered the pickets to fall upon 
their faces, and sent a messenger to Lieutenant-Colonel Ander- 
son for orders. " Hold the ground at all liazards," was the 
answer ; " you will have help soon ! " The position was grow- 
ing hotter every moment, and one of the reserve — Sergeant 
James Lawler, of Company E — as he sat at the foot of a tree, 
eating a soldier's frugal supper, had been severely wounded by 
a fragment of a shell, when a section of MendenhalPs battery 
galloped to the front, and opened fire with such effect as to 
silence the enemy at once. Lieutenant Thatcher was rewarded 
with universal praise on this occasion, which was calculated to 
try the coolness and individual courage of the troops on picket, 
equally at least with most emergencies of a real battle. At 
dark the picket line was reen forced by Company E, and after- 



THE ADVANCE UPON COEINTH. 299 

ward by Company D also. The rest of the regiment continued 
hard at work upon the breastworks. The night was very dark, 
the sky heavily overcast, and the air thunderous, with a cool 
wind, blowing in fitful gusts from the west. 

May 20th. — About 2 A. M., the six reserve companies were 
formed in line behind the breastworks, where they passed the 
remainder of the night, in the midst of a drenching rain. At 
7 A. M., the regiment was relieved by the Thirty-sixth Indi- 
ana, and returned to quarters. 

May 21st.— At 8 A. M., the Sixth Ohio moved to the breast- 
M'orks, where Companies A, F, and D were set at work to finish 
a traverse — a huge mound of earth near the left of Nelson's 
line of defense — thrown up for the protection of artillery there 
to be posted. In the afternoon, the Twenty-second Brigade, 
under Colonel Sedgewick, of the Second Kentucky, made a de- 
termined reconnoissance, losing nineteen men. Two alarms 
occurred during the night, one of them being accompanied 
with heavy picket firing. 

May 22d.— At daylight the Sixth Ohio, which had slept in 
line at the breastworks, was again called to its feet by another 
quick succession of musketry volleys in front. No enemy ap- 
pearing, however, General Nelson gave strict orders against the 
repetition of these needless alarms, and, as General Bucll also 
exerted his authority to stop the wasteful expenditure of am- 
munition, picket firing almost ceased for several days. About 
7 A. M., the Sixth Ohio was relieved by the Twenty-fourth, and 
returned to camp. 

May 23d. — A dreary day, with steady rain in the after- 
noon and during the night. About 11 A. M., the Sixth 
Ohio was advanced to the breastworks, and Companies B and 
G were thrown forward on picket, but at dark the regiment 
was relieved. 



300 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

May 24tli. — The Sixth Ohio enjoyed a day of unbroken 
rest. In the afternoon a reconnoitering party from Pope's 
forces liad a noisy skirmish with the enemy, not far beyond 
Crittenden's lines. At this period, desertions were unusually 
numerous in Beauregard's army, scarcely a day passing in 
which whole squads did not make their escape to the Union 
lines. 



IN CORINTH AND BEYOND. 301 



CHAPTER XXI. 

IN CORINTH AND BEYOND. 

(MAY 25-JUNE 8, 1862.) 

THE great event of May 25th (Sunday) was the presenta- 
tion of a flag from the Sixth to the Twenty-fourth Ohio, 
in the presence of the entire division. "It is a beautiful flag/' 
says the correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette, in describing 
the ceremony, " made by Messrs. John Shillito & Co., of your 
city, and bearing this inscription : ' The Sixth to the Twenty- 
fourth Ohio — Shiloh, April 7, 1862.' At fifteen minutes be- 
fore four o'clock, which was the appointed hour, the assembly 
sounded at division head-quarters, whereupon the several bri- 
gades promptly presented themselves, and took position on a 
slightly-undulating plain to the left of the camp occupied by 
the Sixth Kentucky, where a hollow square was formed, with 
the Sixth and Twenty-fourth Ohio in the center, facing each 
other. At a sound of the bugle, General Buell and stafi^, Pope 
and staff", Crittenden and staff, Granger and stafij and Nelson and 
staff, rode in from one of the salient points of the square, while 
the troops recognized their presence by coming to a * Present.' 
Ten thousand bayonets glistened in the sun, ten thousand men 
stood in serried ranks motionless as statues, not a word was 
whispered, and the silence was all unbroken, until softly borne 
along the air came the stirring strains of the 'Star-spangled 



302 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

Banner.' In cadenced step, General Nelson advanced to the 
color-line of the Sixth, and escorted the colors to the center, 
where he was met by Colonel Fred. Jones, of the Twenty- 
fourth, and then in few but eloquent words presented the flag. 
He alluded to the compact of friendship existing between the 
regiments, which, he said, had been indissolubly sealed upon 
the field of Shiloh, where the two commands had battled side 
by side. The flag Avas well deserved by valorous deeds, and 
was not the result of a reputation made or nurtured by news- 
paper correspondents. He committed it to their care, with the 
feeling, upon his own part, that he was intrusting the beauti- 
ful emblem of liberty to a gallant band that would die rather 
than see one of its stars dimmed by treason or the luster of its 
colors faded by treachery. Accepting the token in a very 
slightly-embarrassed manner. Colonel Jones referred to the 
friendship which bound the Sixth and Twenty-fourth together, 
paid a feeling tribute to the banner itself, and promised that 
the noble standard placed in the keeping of his regiment should 
be returned unsullied by any act of treachery or dishonor. He 
charged the men of his command to guard it well, and to re- 
mfember Bunker Hill, Yorktown, and Monmouth ; Chippewa, 
Lundy's Lane, Ticonderoga, and New Orleans; Buena Vista, 
Resaca de la Palma, and Molino del Rey. He charged them 
to remember also the high confidence which the Sixth reposed 
in the Twenty -fourth, in placing such a sacred gift in their 
keeping, and concluded by returning thanks both to the Sixth 
Regiment and General Nelson." 

That evening the officers of the Sixth Ohio were most hos- 
pitably entertained at the head-quarters of Colonel Jones. 
Their gift was borne through every action in which the Twen- 
ty-fourth Ohio was subsequently engaged — including Stone 
River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Ring- 



IN CORINTH AND BEYOND. 303 

gold, Buzzard's Roost Gap, and several minor affairs; and 
being presented to the State, at the muster-out of the regi- 
ment, it now rests in the capitol at Columbus. 

The 26th of May found the Sixth Ohio again on duty at the 
breastworks. Companies I and K occupying the picket-line, 
where every thing was very quiet all day.* Brisk artillery 
firing was heard upon the left, however, about 5 P. M. The 
night was one of great activity on the/part of the enemy in 
Corinth ; locomotives and moving trains could be heard plainly, 
and also the calls of bugles and drums. On the morning of 
the 27th the regiment was relieved, but at 1 P. M., with the 
rest of the brigade, it was again ordered to the front, to sup- 
port a reconnoitering party from one of the divisions on the 
right, and did not return until sunset. Between ten and 
eleven o'clock at night three rockets were seen to shoot up 
into the sky at a point some miles toward the left, which was 
followed by three loud explosions. At the same time, firing 
sprang up along the picket-lines directly in front, and the 
troops were ordered to prepare to " fall in " at a moment's 
notice, but there was no further demonstrations. 

Halleck's immense army of nearly or quite one hundred 
thousand effective men had now approached to within two 
miles of the rebel fortifications, which, on that portion of the 
line covered by Nelson's division, were hidden behind thick 
woods and an almost impenetrable morass, although they were 
commanded perfectly, as it afterward proved, by a number of 
siege-guns — 32-pound Rodmans — in position at the breast- 
works. General Pope's artillery was posted even more advan- 
tageously along a front less unfavorable for its employment. 
*An interesting letter, by Sergeant Nicholson, of Company K, Sixth 
Ohio, describing a friendly picket scene which occurred at this date, is 
given in Volume V of the " Rebellion Record." 



304 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

Beauregard, whose force scarcely exceeded one-half of that op- 
posed to him, was too astute a commander not to have per- 
ceived the necessity which had arisen for abandoning Corinth, 
notwithstanding that he himself had previously declared it the 
strategic point of the campaign ; and by this time his prepara- 
tions to that end were nearly complete. General Halleck, how- 
ever, had allowed himself to be most preposterously deceived 
in regard to the designs of his antagonist, and it was not till 
after the bulk of the rebel army was twenty miles from Cor- 
inth that he began to comprehend the real situation. 

On Wednesday, May 28th, each of his three army corps 
commanders received orders to push forward a strong recon- 
noissance, which was to be supported, if necessary, by the whole 
command. The result of this movement was an advance of 
the entire line, at some points to within a mile and a quarter 
of the enemy's defenses, with the very general expectation, on 
the part of the troops, that a decisive battle would be brought 
on thereby. On Nelson's front the Nineteenth and Twenty- 
second Brigades gained about two-thirds of a mile during the 
afternoon, the Tenth Brigade, meanwhile, remaining at the 
breastworks, as reserves. Heavy firing was heard upon the 
front of both Thomas and Pope, giving rise to a hundred ru- 
mors, and several times the crash of musketry, mingling with 
the roar of cannon, in the direction whither Hazen and Sedge- 
wick had moved, sounded to the troops in the rear like the 
opening of a general engagement; but the night fell peacefully, 
after the hot and feverish day, and the reserves slept soundly, 
while the advance brigades were busily at work, amid the 
darkness, in covering their new positions by a double line of 
rifle-pits. 

On the 29th, the Tenth Brigade was roused at the earliest 
dawn and moved forward to relieve the Nineteenth, taking 



IN CORINTH AND BEYOND. 305 

position immediately to the left of the Twenty-second, with its 
own left, composed of the Sixth Ohio, resting upon the main 
road to Corinth. Near by, Mendenhall's Battery was posted so 
as to sweep the road and the adjacent open spaces in advance. 
*' The work of making rifle-pits commenced at once," says a 
Sixth Ohio soldier, "and by 11 A. M., there was a continuous 
line of them extending along the front of our two brigades, on 
the summit of a gentle slope, the western side of which (that 
toward Corinth) was, for the most part, open and cultivated, 
with a thick and densely-wooded swamp at its base. Except- 
ing the main road to Corinth, and perhaps one or two other 
narrow causeways, this swamp was unbroken by any paths 
practicable for troops, and being well picketed it screened our 
line completely. Several times during the day, there were 
fierce outbreakings of artillery fire away to the left, and also 
many heavy though fitful volleys of musketry directly in our 
front, and twice we were called into line ready for the appre- 
hended attack. Three or four of our pickets were wounded, 
one of them mortally — a member of the Twenty-fourth Ohio, 
whom I saw borne past us to the rear about the middle of the 
afternoon. But again the cool and tranquil night came on, 
and we lay down before our stacked arms, as usual, to think^ 
to sleep, to dream. Half of us were still awake, when, about 
10 P. M., we heard wild cheering in the direction of Corinth, 
continuing for several minutes ; then it ceased, and all was 
silent as before. What could it mean ? A light breeze was 
blowing from the south-west, and nearly all night we could 
hear locomotives screaming and trains running heavily on the 
Mobile and Ohio Railroad, and once a band playing some trea- 
sonable, air or other, until the sound gradually died away in 
the distance. Many of our officers became convinced at once 
that the enemy were evacuating Corinth. 
20 



306 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

" On the 30tb, we were in line at day-break, as usual, but 
were soon allowed to break ranks and get breakfast. It must 
have been a very little after six o'clock when the sound of ter- 
rific explosions toward Corinth burst suddenly upon our ears. 
We listened intently. ' Blowing up their works/ said a dozen 
of the men close by me, and the words were hardly spoken 
when General Nelson came galloping down the line, hotly pur- 
sued by his entire staff'. ' They are gone ! ' he exclaimed, ' the 
^ — d rascals ! Sixth Ohio, get ready and follow me into Cor- 
inth ! ' and, dashing down the road, he was lost to view behind 
the woods. The explosions continued, though less rapid than 
at first, and we saw a thick volume of dense, black smoke roll- 
ing away to the northward, where it was finally lost in a mass 
of lead-colored clouds. Reenforced by Companies C and D, 
Companies E and H, which had been on picket-duty all night, 
promptly deployed as skirmishers and pressed vigorously for- 
ward. A rapid exchange of shots in front soon assured us 
that the enemy's pickets, at least, still remained between us 
and Corinth, and in a few minutes we learned that Captain 
Erwin, while gallantly leading on his men, had been danger- 
ously wounded in the right side, the ball passing entirely 
through his body. He was at once carried to the rear and 
taken to the division hospital. 

"Small squads of the enemy's pickets were being brought 
back, under guard, as our brigade took up its line of march 
for Corinth, in the following order : Thirty-sixth Indiana, Sev- 
enteenth Kentucky, Twenty-fourth Ohio, and Sixth Ohio. 
Our division, with the Tenth Brigade in advance, was the 
first to enter the deserted intrenchments,* which it did about 

*The honor of being first in Corinth, such as it was, had three different 
claimants, namely, Xelsoa, W. T. Sherman, and Pope. General Buell's 



IN COEINTH AND BEYOND. 307 

twenty minutes past seven o'clock. A short tlistance inside 
the rebel breastworks we saw an effigy hanging from a scrubby 
little tree, and close by a pine board nailed fast, on which was 
traced in uncouth letters : ' Halleck outwitted — what will old 
Abe say?' Reaching the outskirts of the town, half a mile 
beyond the fortifications, we stacked arms and there lay in the 
hot sun all day, excepting the time that the men took to ex- 
plore the town, gather relics, etc. Several buildings, fired by 
the enemy, continued to burn until the middle of the after- 
noon — warehouses principally, whose contents the rebels had 
not been able entirely to remove. Some tents and camp equi- 
page were captured, but the amount of stores left behind was 
so small, and Beauregard effected his escape so dexterously, 
that we are obliged to consider the evacuation very successful." 

Toward noon General Halleck rode into Corinth, and estab- 
lished head-quarters at the Tishimingo Hotel. By his orders, 
General Pope commenced pursuit the same day, but it was 
an ill-digested movement, and, being very tardily supported, 
amounted to nothing. It nevertheless aiforded General Hal- 
leck the pretext for a most astounding series of dispatches, 
such as to mislead the Government into believing that the 
campaign had resulted in a brilliant success, while, in fact, he 
had suffered to slip through his fingers an op])ortunity well- 
nigh as grand and decisive as his antagonist had lost at Shiloh. 

Eighty-five prisoners were captured by the Fourth Division 
during the first day's occupation of Corinth, and intrusted for 
safe keeping to Companies" B and G, of the Sixth Ohio. Among 
the number was a conscripted Ohioan named Ephraim Estep, 
who seemed glad of an opportunity to surrender himself In 

official report of the advance on Corinth states distinctly that Nelson was 
the first to enter, and General Ammen's testimony is quite positive to the 
same effect. 



308 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

the evening, the division returned to camp, with a feeh'ng of 
intense relief, following eight weeks of arduous labor and con- 
tinual suspense, such as every old campaigner will readily ap- 
preciate. 

On Sunday, the 1st of June, the Tenth Brigade relieved the 
Nineteenth at the advanced rifle-pits, but returned before noon, 
leaving the Twenty-second Brigade in the act of pitching its 
tents there. Picketing in that vicinity had been abandoned. 
Drum-calls now came into use again throughout the Fourth 
Division, and in the evening the Sixth Ohio held dress parade, 
for the first time in nearly three weeks. Nelson had issued an 
order upon the subject of drills, etc., on the preceding day, as 
follows : " Whether the troops are in the trenches or not, they 
will be drilled from half-past five to half-past seven o'clock 
in the morning, and from four to six o'clock in the afternoon. 
Brigade commanders will report every case of non-observance 
of this order, with the reason therefor. Dress parade must in 
no instance be omitted. Care must be taken to prevent that 
laxity in discipline and instructions liable to follow the change 
of aiFairs in our front." 

On the 2d, Nelson's division marched to Corinth, where it 
relieved Crittenden's upon an anomalous sort of picket duty. 
The night was rainy, but most of the troops slept well under 
the flies of rebel tents and other hastily improvised shelters, 
and next day the command was relieved by McCook. 

At 6 A. M., on the 4th, the division took up its line of 
march to support General Pope, the Tenth Brigade leading. 
It moved in light marching order, without tents or knapsacks, 
passed through Corinth and southward through Danville, and 
after a march of fourteen miles, halted about one mile beyond 
the Tishimingo River— a turbid, very sluggisli little stream — 
where a working party was found just completing a new bridge 



IN CORINTH AND BEYOND. 309 

in place of that destroj'ed by the retreating rebels. The Sixth 
Ohio was moved out one-third of a mile on the Ripley road, 
nominally on picket, where t remained nearly forty-eight 
hours. 

Starting at 3 P. M., on the 6th, the division passed through 
the village of Rienzi, and two miles beyond it went into bivouac 
for the night, having marched seven miles. Water was scarce 
throughout this whole region. Next morning the division 
moved about five miles further, and took its place in the line 
of battle into which the pursuing columns had been absurdly 
formed, stretching from Blackland on the right to Booneville 
on the left, and at no point more than thirty-two miles from 
Corinth. The Tenth Brigade bivouacked on a high, thinly- 
timbered piece of woodland, at the junction of several different 
roads, where it remained for two days. By this time the pur- 
suit, so-called, had been discontinued, and Halleck's immense 
army — the largest ever assembled west of the Alleghauies — 
was being divided into its three constituent corps, for service in 
as many different quarters, under their original commanders ; in 
fact, General Wood's division, and one or two others belong- 
ing to the Army of the Ohio, had already been put en route 
toward Chattanooga, which was to be General Buell's next ob- 
jective, preliminary to a march into East Tennessee. 

The changes which occurred among the commissioned officers 
of the Sixth Ohio, during the Corinth campaign, may be briefly 
recorded. 

Captain Andrews' resignation was accepted on the 22d of 
April. He subsequently went into business in Memphis, Ten- 
nessee, where he still resides. Captain Tinker rejoined the 
regiment from sick-leave, on the 20th of April, and Captain 
Tatem, on the 24th; Dr. Stephens, from the charge of a hos- 



310 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

pital boat to Cincinnati, as before noted, on the 6th of May, 
and Dr. Ames from duty elsewhere, a few days earlier, (Dr. 
H. B. Mnsgrave, of Cincinnati, having been on duty with the 
regiment duiing the interval that both were absent) ; Captain 
Clarke, from duty at Nashville, on the 14th of May; and 
Quartermaster Shoemaker, from absence granted on account of 
his accidental wound, on the 16th. 

On the 27th of April, Second Lieutenant Choate was trans- 
ferred from Company G to Company E, and on the 30th, Sec- 
ond Lieutenant Gee was granted a sick-leave, from which he 
did not return until the middle of June. On the 24th of 
May, Lieutenant William P. Anderson was relieved from duty 
at division head-quarters, at his own request, and rejoining the 
regiment was temporarily assigned to Company D, but on the 
3d of June, was again detailed on General Nelson's staff, as 
Engineer Officer for the division. During the third week of 
May, Adjutant Heron was stricken down by sickness, and on 
the 25th, started northward, on sick-leave. Continued ill 
health preventing his return to the field, he resigned in July, 
and afterward went into the hardware business in Cincinnati, 
in which he is still engaged. He was a very efficient and much 
valued officer. On the 31st of May, Captain Wilmington was 
accidentally shot, receiving a flesh wound in the leg ; he secured 
a leave of absence, and a few weeks later resigned. He after- 
ward removed to Idaho Territory, but died in the year 1866, 
during an ocean voyage on the Pacific coast. 

Captain Wilmington's departure having left Company C 
without a single commissioned officer, on the 3d of June 
First Lieutenant McAlpin was assigned to its command, until 
further orders. When the regiment next day turned its back 
on Corinth, First Lieutenant Morgan was left behind, sick at 
division hospital, where Captain Erwin was also lying in a 



IN CORINTH AND BEYOND. 311 

critical condition from the wonnd which he had received on 
the 30th of May. A day or two later Dr. Stephens was de- 
tailed to take charge of the snrgical ward in the general field 
hospital of the Array of the Ohio, where he remained until it 
was broken up in July. 

On the 31st of May, private William R. Goodnough, of 
Company G, was appointed quartermaster-sergeant. About 
a week earlier, private Alfred West (known throughout the 
regiment as " Taps ") was discharged, in accordance with Gen- 
eral Buell's order for discontinuing the use of bass-drums. 

Thus, the commissioned officers on duty with the Sixth Ohio, 
when the regiment moved eastward again, after the fall of Cor- 
inth, were as follows. Those absences not mentioned in the 
preceding paragraphs have been accounted for in Chajjter 
XVI: 

Field and Staff — Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson, Major Chris- 
topher, Quartermaster Shoemaker, and Assistant-Surgeon 
Ames. 

Company A — Captain Westcott. 

Company B — First Lieutenant Charles B. Russell, com- 
manding company. 

Company C — First Lieutenant McAlpin (temporarily trans- 
ferred from Company A) commanding company. 

Company D — Captain Tatem. 

Company E — First Lieutenant Donovan, commanding, com- 
pany ; and Second Lieutenant Choate. 

Company F — Cajitain Brutton and First Lieut. Thatclier. 

Company G — Capt. A. O. Russell and First Lieut. Getty, 

Company H — Captain Tinker. 

Company I — Second Lieut* West, commanding company. 

Company Iv — Capt. Clarke and Second Lieutenant Gettier. 



312 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 



CHAPTER XXII. 
lUKA AND ATHENS. 

(JUNE 9-JULY 13, 1862.) 

IMMEDIATELY upon abandoning the hypothetical pursuit 
of Beauregard's retreating forces, the Army of the Ohio 
entered upon a weary and exhausting campaign of five months' 
duration, which, in some respects, is entirely anomalous in the 
history of the war. Originally undertaken for the capture of 
Chattanooga and the liberation of East Tennessee, that cam- 
paign witnessed the transfer of the whole army to the banks 
of the Ohio, and was regarded as happily ended at last by the 
mere expulsion of the enemy from Kentucky and the firm re- 
tention of Nashville. In common with every other regiment 
of Buell's army (with few exceptions), the Sixth Ohio, during 
this period, was almost constantly on the march or other duty, 
and, in respect to physical endurance and the patriotism of its 
individual members, underwent a trying ordeal, such as no 
soldier who passed through it will ever forget. The events 
which befell the regiment henceforward to the initiation of the 
Stone River campaign, we shall chronicle principally in the 
form of a diary. 

June 9th, Monday. — At 2 P. M., the Fourth Division began 
its march eastward toward Chattanooga. It passed through 



lUKA AND ATHENS. 313 

the camps of T. "VV. Sherman and Pope, and, about IIP. M., 
halted for the night on the northern outskirts of Jacinto, the 
county seat of Tishimingo County, Miss., after a severe march 
of fifteen miles. The country was found to be more rolling 
than in the vicinity of Corinth, with pine-trees growing thrift- 
ily among the forests of oak, elm, hickory, etc. By this date, 
a Southern summer had set in, with all its heat and suffocating 
dust, and henceforth the customary style of marching was to 
start at day-break or soon afterward, and, after a rest of three 
or four hours at midday, to finish the day's journey in the 
cooler part of the afternoon. 

June 10th. — The division started at 61 A. M., taking the 
road toward Tuscumbia, and, after a march of seventeen miles, 
bivouacked for the night five or six miles south-west of luka. 
" Half a mile before halting," says a Sixth Ohio diary, " we 
came to a beautiful little stream of running water (Deer Creek), 
which made the boys cry out, ' Virginia ! Virginia ! ' " 

June 11th. — The division marched six miles to a camp in 
the woods adjoining "Wood's division, one mile east of luka, 
where it remained nearly a week. Nelson's trains came up 
from Corinth on the 12th, and on the 13th McCook moved 
past him toward Tuscumbia. In obedience to Halleck's orders 
(which contemplated the impolitic, if not impracticable, meas- 
ure of making Corinth the base of operations against Chatta- 
nooga), General Buell was repairing the Memphis and Charles- 
ton Railroad as he advanced, and found the task a slow and 
laborious one. 

On the 15th of June, the Tenth Brigade was inspected by 
Captain Higgins, of the Twenty-fourth Ohio, specially ap- 
pointed for that duty, and all the surplus clothing and baggage 
found in possession of the troops were turned over to the 
quartermaster's department, to be stored at Eastport. This 



314 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

was in accordance with an order from General Buell, dated the 
3d, limiting the allowance of clothing, etc., for each man to the 
following articles, namely, one blanket, two shirts, two pairs of 
drawers, two pairs of socks, one jacket or blouse, one pair of 
pants, one pair of shoes, and one cap or hat. About the same 
time the allowance of tents for each company was reduced to 
three Sibleys for the men and one wall or Sibley tent for the 
officers — " one of the company tents to be taken for hospital 
purposes whenever the hospital tents should be found insuffi- 
cient for the sick." Within six weeks, the large amount of 
stores sent to Eastport (which included thousands of half-worn 
overcoats, and other private property) was destroyed by a rebel 
cavalry raid, yet the Government never reimbursed the men 
for their losses there. 

At this time, the Tenth Brigade was commanded by Briga- 
dier-General Ammen, who had been promoted soon after the 
battle of Shiloh, although his commission, as afterward re- 
ceived, gave him rank only from the 16th of July (1862); the 
Nineteenth Brigade, by Colonel Grose, during the temporary 
absence of Colonel Hazen ; and the Twenty-second Brigade, by 
Brigadier-General INIahlon D. Manson, who had succeeded to 
that command on the 29th of May, the day before the evacua- 
tion of Corinth. 

June 17th, Tuesday. — The Fourth Division marched from 
luka, its three brigades moving at intervals of five miles, in the 
order in which they are named in the preceding paragraph. 
The Tenth Brigade started at 9 A. M., with Company F, of 
the Sixth Ohio, as advance guard and Company A as pioneers. 
"Our pioneer wagon upset," says an officer's diary, "and in a 
deep mud-hole at that. Somewhat later, a Seventeenth Ken- 
tucky wagon did the same, badly hurting three men who were 
walking along-side. Three other men, belonging to the same 



lUKA AND ATHENS. 315 

regiment, were sun-struck, and one of them died. A member 
of Company F, Sixth Ohio, who was sick and weak, fell down 
near a wagon and had his foot run over. During the day the 
sick in the ambulances suffered terribly from the intense heat 
and the dust; and, for that matter, so did all the troops." 
After fording Big Bear Creek, and when within a mile and a 
half of Buzzard's Roost, or about four miles within the State 
of Alabama, the brigade was overtaken by Captain Kendrick, 
with orders from General Nelson to return instantly toward 
luka, which was threatened by a heavy body of rebel cavalry. 
It recrossed Bear Creek, and, after an exhausting day's march 
of fifteen miles, halted for the night an hour after dark, on the 
summit of the hill, one mile west of that stream. Hundreds 
of stragglers slept on the banks of the creek or by the side of 
the road thither. At this date Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson 
received a fifteen-days' leave of absence, and immediately started 
for Cincinnati, leaving Major Christopher in command of the 
regiment. 

The Tenth Brigade remained in bivouac, in nearly the same 
position as that just noted, for three entire days. During this 
time, it was paid off by Major Foote for the two months end- 
ing April 30th, and was reviewed by General Nelson. On the 
latter occasion, only four companies of the Sixth Ohio were in 
line, the rest being on picket duty or guarding railroad 
bridges in the vicinity. Says the diary of a private ; " Com- 
panies B and E were stationed at the main bridge over Bear 
Creek, where the boys enjoyed quite a holiday, and so many 
were plashing about in the water* all day that I thought Bare 
Creek would be the most appropriate orthography. The creek 
strongly reminds us of dear old Elk water, which it almost 
equals in size, even after so much dry weather. During the 
night of the 19th, a small band of mounted guerrillas — assisted 



316 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

by some of the citizens, no doubt— succeeded in tearing up sev- 
eral rods of railroad track about six miles east of here, and, on 
the approach of Union cavalry, escaped through the woods. 
The train from luka which passed us at Bear Creek, at half- 
past two in the morning, narrowly escaped destruction — in fact, 
the locomotive was thrown from the track, though not down 
the embankment, as the wretches designed. The damage will 
be repaired in a day or two." 

June 21st.— Crossing Bear Creek a third time, the Tenth 
Brigade changed camp four miles forward to a thick chaparral, 
one and a half miles west of Buzzard's Roost, where it lay in 
luxurious idleness for nejirly three days. 

June 24th. — The brigade marched eighteen miles, and went 
into bivouac in an old cotton field on a hill overlooking Tus- 
cumbia. A portion of the trip was made on the railroad track 
past Cherokee station and an immense plantation well stocked 
with slaves, which belonged to a rebel quartermaster-general 
named Dickson. The rear-guard of Hascall's brigade, of 
Wood's division, was the only body of troops found in Tus- 
cumbia, the rest being already across the Tennessee. The field 
officer of the day having neglected to call in the first platoon 
of Company K, Sixth Ohio, from picket, when the brigade 
started in the morning, it remained on duty for several hours 
longer, and did not overtake the column until next day. 

June 25th. — The command marched about five miles through 
Tuscumbia to Jackson's Landing (so called from the fact that 
General Jackson here crossed his army in the war of 1812), 
and was ferried across the Tennessee by the Lady Jackson, a 
little stern-wheel steamer, towing two barges. A circuitous 
march of three more miles through Florence, brought it to a 
pleasant camping place in a thin belt of woods bordering the 
Tennessee River, about a mile above the town. 



lUKA AXD ATHENS. 317 

June 26th. — The march was resumed at 3 P. M., on the 
turnpike toward Athens and Huntsville. Seven miles 
brouglit the brigade to Shoal River, where it bivouacked with 
Company B, of the Sixth Ohio^ guarding the bridge over that 
stream. 

June 27th.— The Sixth Ohio had the advance. At 9 A. M., 
the column came up with the rear of Crittenden's division, just 
moving out of his last night's camping place on Blue Water 
Creek, and there halted several hours to allow his trains to 
get ahead. The brigade bivouacked at night-full in a wood 
two miles west of Rogersville, after a total march of sixteen 
miles. 

June 28th. — Passing through Rogersville at sunrise, the 
column soon afterward overtook Crittenden's slow-moving 
trains again, and a drove of beef-cattle destined for the use of 
the troops at Huntsville. Toward noon, it forded Elk River, 
and early went into bivouac in an open meadow, after marching 
only eight miles. 

June 29th, Sunday. — The Tenth Brigade marched fifteen 
miles, through Athens, and at 1 P. M. encamped in a low piece 
of woods one mile east of the town. The troops complained 
greatly on account of having to march in the heat of the day. 

The Fourth Division remained in camp, near Athens, for 
two weeks, protecting one of the two lines of railroad toward 
Nashville, which General Buell was laboriously engaged in re- 
opening, not merely as a necessary preliminary in his move- 
ment upon Chattanooga, but also as the only means left him of 
subsisting his army. The Tennessee River was no longer 
available for the latter purpose, while the great superiority of 
the rebels in cavalry enabled them to cut his railroad com- 
munications with Corinth almost at pleasure, and keep them 
constantly broken. While at Athens, the troops received the 



318 THE STORY OF A EEGIMEXT. 

depressing intelligence of the seven days' fighting before 
Richmond and McClellan's retreat to the James River. 

On the 30th of June, Major Christopher mustered the Sixth 
Ohio for payment. The regiment was already greatly weak- 
ened in its total of "present for duty," by the wholesale sys- 
tem of details for clerical duty of various kinds from which it 
afterward suffered so much, and which, although a high com- 
pliment to the superior qualifications and business training of 
its members, was never a source of gratification to the regi- 
mental commanders, but rather the reverse. On the 3d of 
July, Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson returned from Cincinnati, 
after an absence from the regiment of sixteen days. The " Glo- 
rious Fourth" was celebrated by a grand review of the entire 
division at the Limestone County fair grounds, a short dis- 
tance west of Athens. Says a diary : " We started from camp 
at precisely 4 P. M., the Tenth Brigade in the advance, and 
then the Nineteenth, with the Twenty-second Brigade coming 
last. The dust was awful — so dense at times that it was im- 
possible to see three files ahead. It was a sore disap})ointment 
to those who had come out in the splendor of white collars and 
fancy cravats, as many of our boys had done; and as for the 
polished accouterments and shining brasses of all of us, they 
might as well have been left untouched. When we were once 
on the fair grounds, however, the ceremony passed off well, and 
greatly to the delight of a large crowd of contrabands who had 
congregated there, all in holiday attire, of course. Of the citi- 
zens, none were present, except a few belonging to the poorer 
class, and in going through the town we were scowled at from 
almost every house." 

On the 9th of July, the Tenth Brigade (from sanitary con- 
siderations) changed camp, four and a half miles, to a thin 
piece of woodland, timbered with scrub-oak and a dense under- 



lUKA AND ATHENS. 319 

brush, about two miles from Athens. A spring near by fur- 
nished a bountiful supply of clear, cold water for the entire 
command. Next morning, Company B, of the Sixth Ohio, 
was sent out on picket, and in the afternoon the remainder of 
the regiment, in company with a detail of three hundred men 
from the Thirty-sixth Indiana and Twenty-fourth Ohio, re- 
ceived orders to march to the Elk River tunnel, about twenty 
miles north of Athens, for the purpose of clearing a roadway 
tiirough it for the passage of wagon-trains, and ultimately re- 
laying the railroad track. Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson had 
command of the whole detail. " We started at 2 P. M.," says 
a Sixth Ohio letter, "marching to Athens, and from thence 
seven miles northward, where we bivouacked. A tremendous 
thunder-storm passed over us during the night. We con- 
tinued the march at 4 A. M., next morning (July Hth); 
halted for an hour by a beautiful spring, forded Elk River, 
and rested three hours on the northern bank. At 9 P. M., we 
finally reached the tunnel, after a march of twenty-two miles, 
or nearly three miles further than the total distance from 
Athens, if we had come by the proper route, instead of taking 
the roundabout road that we did. Next morning (the 12th) 
our force began work at the tunnel, and after clearing out the 
roadway — which occupied only about half an hour's time — 
devoted the remainder of the day to improving the approaches 
to it. Near the tunnel we saw a trestle-work which the rebels 
had destroyed. At eight o'clock on Sunday morning (the 13th) 
the expedition started homeward, recrossed Elk River, and 
rested on its banks as before ; kept on, and halted for the night 
at the end of eleven miles, or about eight miles from Athens. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson understands the science of march- 
ing troops perfectly." But, as we shall see in the next chapter, 
the expedition never returned to camp at Athens. 



320 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

During the second week in July, General Ammen, by an 
order from dei^artment head-quarters, was detailed for duty 
upon an important court-martial, whereupon the command of 
the Tenth Brigade again and permanently devolved upon Col- 
onel Grose, of the Thirty-sixth Indiana. 

This brave and faithful officer was born in Montgomery 
County, Ohio, on the 16th of December, 1812, and is the 
grandson, by both parents, of Revolutionary heroes, one of 
whom was killed in fighting for national independence. In 
1816, his father, William Grose, Sr., removed to Fayette 
County, Indiana, and in 1830 to the adjoining county of Henry, 
which has since remained the General's home. Although lim- 
ited pecuniary means prevented him from ever attending col- 
lege, he succeeded in obtaining a good common school educa- 
tion, while assisting in the care of his father's farm, and 
afterward studied law, which profession he followed with dis- 
tinction and great success for many years. Pie was located at 
Newcastle, but his practice extended to the Supreme Court of 
the State and also to the Circuit Court of the United States. 
Previous to this time, however, (in 1836,) he married Miss 
Needham, the daughter of a neighboring farmer, and a lady of 
great personal beauty. 

In 1852, he was one of the Presidential electors for Franklin 
Pierce, and in 1856-7, served a term in the State Legislature, 
as the representative of Henry County. When the war broke 
out, he was discharging the duties of Judge of the Court of 
Common Pleas, for his district, to which position he had been 
elected during the preceding year. At the request of Governor 
Morton, he resigned in August, 1861, to accept the colonelcy 
of the Thirty-sixth Indiana, and soon afterward took the field 
with that splendid organization. For several weeks prior to 
the incorporation of the latter into the Tenth Brigade, he had 



rUKA AND ATHENS. 321 

been In command (as the ranking officer) of the forces stationed 
in the vicinity of New Haven, Kentucky, consisting of the 
Thirty-fourth Indiana, the Fifteenth Kentucky, and his own 
regiment. Colonel Grose's conduct at Sliiloh was such as to 
secure for him the warmest commendations of his superiors. 
His part in that battle was conspicuous, but as it has been 
detailed at length in a preceding chapter, a mere reference to 
it will be sufficient here; and the same is true of his services 
as commander of the Tenth Brigade, in May (1862), and after- 
ward of the Nineteenth Brigade during the temporary absence 
of Colonel Hazen. 



21 



322 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 



CHAPTEE XXIII. 

MURFREESBORO'. 

(JULY 14-31.) 

GENERAL FORREST'S brigade of rebel cavalry, od 
Sunday, the 13th of July, surprised Murfreesboro' and 
captured the entire garrison, amounting to about one thousand 
men, under the command of Brigadier-General T. T. Crittenden, 
originally the colonel of those old comrades of the Sixth Ohio 
in the Laurel Hill campaign — the Sixth Indiana Infantry. 
This sudden and unexpected blow the whole army regarded 
as peculiarly humiliating. Moreover, it severed the only line 
of railroad communications which General Buell had yet suc- 
ceeded in re-opening with his base at Nashville, and jeopar- 
dized the safety of that post itself. To counteract this alarm- 
ing change in the condition of affairs. General Nelson was 
ordered to march to Reynolds' Station, forty-three miles from 
Athens — which was as far south as the Tennessee and Central 
Alabama Railroad had then been put in running order — and 
there take cars for Nashville, from whence he was to move upon 
Murfreesboro' and re-open communication as speedily as pos- 
sible. The Tenth Brigade had just received a greatly-needed 
supply of clothing, which was only partially distributed, but, 
as the emergency did not admit of a moment's unnecessary de- 
lay, Nelson placed himself at the head of that favorite com- 



MUKFREESBORO'. 323 

mand, and ordering his other brigades to follow, at 8 A. M., 
of July 14th, began a forced march northward. Lieutenant- 
Colonel Anderson's expedition, just returning from Elk River 
tunnel, fell in with the column at Athens, after a rapid march 
that morning of about eight miles, and without waiting to rest 
or even draw rations, pushed on with the remainder of the 
brigade. The men suffered intensely from the heat, and several 
cases of sun-stroke occurred, but it was nearly 9 P. INI. before 
General Nelson halted for the night, at a magnificent spring on 
the Tennessee State line, fifteen miles from Athens. The troops 
slept by the road-side, without going into regular bivouac, 
and, resuming the march at half-past two o'clock (on the 15th) 
marched four miles and forded Elk River before sunrise, then 
snatched a hurried breakfast on the outskirts of the village of 
Elkton, and again pushed forward. At the end of fifteen miles 
further, the head of the column reached Pulaski, where it went 
into bivouac on the banks of Richland Creek, and ambulances 
and wagons were sent back six miles toward Elkton, to bring 
in the sick and feeble. At Pulaski the Seventeenth Kentucky 
was replaced in the Tenth Brigade by the Twenty-third Ken- 
tucky, Colonel Mark Mundy commanding, which contained 
many officers and men from Cincinnati and vicinity who were 
personally acquainted in the Sixth Ohio. 

July 16th. — A comfortable march of eight miles brought the 
troops to Reynolds' Station by 8 A. M. A long train of cars 
was in waiting, upon which they immediately began embark- 
ing, leaving the wagon trains and nearly all the baggage, under 
guard of the Second Kentucky (which had accompanied the 
Tenth Brigade from Athens), to follow by turnpike. Rebel 
guerrillas had lately burnt a bridge and destroyed a water-tank 
near Reynolds' Station, and for the first ten miles a locomotive 
piloted the way, with General Nelson himself standing at the 



324 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

side of the engineer. Next followed a crowded train of freight 
and platform cars, containing the Sixth and Twenty-fourth 
Ohio and Mendenhall's Battery, and then the Thirty-sixth In- 
diana and Twenty-third Kentucky upon another train, a short 
distance in the rear. About three miles south of Columbia an 
accident occurred, caused by the breaking of an axle, which 
resulted in instantly killing private John Collins, of the bat- 
tery, as he lay under a cannon asleep, and severely wounding 
two others, one of them a member of the Twenty-fourth Ohio. 
" For a few minutes," says a Sixth Ohio diary, " Nelson was 
almost beside himself with rage. He put both the engineer 
and conductor under arrest, and did not release them until 
after reaching Nashville. He struck one of them a ferocious 
blow in the face, denounced them as secessionists who were 
trying to murder his men, and threatened to hang them both 
before the sun went down. By his orders, two of our boys 
were placed in charge of the train, and ran it throughout the 
remaining forty-nine miles of our journey. The accident de- 
layed us about three hours, and when we did start we moved 
very slowly, so that it was almost midnight when we reached 
Nashville, and marched to a level meadow near the peniten- 
tiary, where we slept till morning." 

July 17th. — At 5 A. M., the Sixth Ohio marched to the 
freight depot, fgr shelter from the rain that had begun falling 
two hours before, and most of the men spent the day in sight- 
seeing and looking up friends in the Sixty-ninth Ohio and 
other regiments, as well as citizen acquaintances of the Camp 
Wickliffe epoch. The brigade bivouacked near its camping 
place of the preceding night. 

July 18th.— At 8 A. M., the Tenth Brigade started by rail 
for Murfreesboro', thirty-two miles distant. Numerous delays 
occurred, in examining bridges before crossing, in leaving Com- 



MURFEEESBOEO'. 325 

pany A, of the Sixth Ohio, and other detachments, as guards 
at three or four of the larger ones, and in questioning the 
jjaroled prisoners who were met returning to Nashville, con- 
cerning the movements of the enemy. The train halted near 
the old camp of the Third Minnesota, half a mile before reach- 
ing Murfreesboro' ; the troops disembarked, formed in column 
by companies, and with loaded arms at "right shoulder shift," 
marched rapidly into the town. They occupied it without 
firing a shot. The Sixth Ohio flag was hoisted over the court- 
house, and a heavy picket having been sent out in every direc- 
tion, the rest made themselves comfortable in the court-house 
and other deserted buildings fronting on the public square. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson was appointed post command- 
ant, and Captain Russell provost marshal. 

July 19th. — The troops slept on their arms and were formed 
in line of battle at 3 A. M. The latter precaution was con- 
tinued for several days. The Twenty-third Kentucky, Twen- 
ty-fourth Ohio, and Thirty-sixth Indiana moved to camping 
grounds in the southern suburbs of the town, near the site of 
the railroad depot, which Forrest had burned down. The Sixth 
Ohio, however, having been assigned to provost duty, remained 
in its former quarters. During the day troops began arriving 
from the direction of Shelbyville, Tullahoma, and Wartrace, 
and General Nelson compelled the citizens to return all the 
United States property which had come into their possession 
at the surrender on the 13th. 

July 21st. — The Sixth Ohio held its first dress parade since 
leaving Athens. It was witnessed by a large crowd of specta- 
tors at the public square, and the regiment received universal 
praise for its neat appearance and precision in the manual of 
arms. Company A was relieved by a company from the Sec- 
ond Kentucky, and rejoined the regiment. General Nelsoa 



326 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

issued a proclamation requiring the planters in the vicinity of 
Murfreesboro' to furnish, next morning, "two hundred able- 
bodied working hands," with one day's food and necessary im- 
plements for the construction of fortifications. This being the 
first official document to which his signature as " Major-Gen- 
eral" was appended, the troops noted his promotion with great 
satisfaction, although regarding it as a rather tardy recognition 
of the Fourth Division's services in the Shiloh campaign. By 
this date the Tenth Brigade had been reenforced at Murfrees- 
boro' by the Thirty-fifth Indiana, the Fifty-first Ohio, the Sec- 
ond, Eighth, and Twenty-first Kentucky, Konkle's Battery, 
and considerable detachments of the Seventh Pennsylvania 
and Third and Fourth Kentucky Cavalry. 

July 22d. — Soon after sunrise a courier reached head-quar- 
ters with the intelligence that a reconnoitering party from the 
Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry had been ambuscaded near 
Lebanon and cut to pieces. By half-past six o'clock, six reg- 
iments of infantry— the Tenth Brigade, with the Second Ken- 
tucky and Fifty-first Ohio — and one of cavalry, were in rapid 
march toward Nashville, with which all communication had 
been cut oif during the night by rebel guerrillas. A short 
distance from Murfreesboro', Nelson addressed the troops a few 
remarks as they filed past, informing them that Nashville was 
believed to be in danger, and, although the day's march might 
prove to be a hard one, they must do their best and keep up 
with the column. After proceeding twenty-two miles, they 
lay down at dark by the road-side, -svithout having encountered 
the enemy, although considerable bodies of them were known 
to be hovering about at no great distance. 

July 23d. — The expedition returned to Murfreesboro', by a 
hard march of twenty-three miles, the last eight of which was 
on the Lebanon turnpike. During its absence, Colonel Barnes, 



MURFREESBORO'. 327 

of the Eighth Kentucky, had had charge of affairs at Murfrees- 
boro', and a party of Texan Rangers — who had foolishly been 
permitted to pass the picket-line under a flag of truce, osten- 
sibly to arrange for the exchange of a squad of prisoners — 
were allowed to obtain much contraband information from citi- 
zens. The rumor that this party came to demand the surren- 
der of Murfreesboro' occasioned great excitement for a few 
minutes. The troops all stood to arms around the court-house, 
and Konkle's Battery took position in readiness for action. 

July 26th. — The First and Twentieth Kentucky reached 
Murfreesboro'. By this date the fortifications on the elevated 
plain south of the town were beginning to assume formidable 
dimensions under the superintendence of Lieutenant William 
P. Anderson, chief engineer of the division. In the principal 
fort a well was being sunk through solid rock, by the laborious 
process of blasting. 

July 27th, Sunday. — About half-past nine o'clock at night, 
there was a picket alarm on the Lebanon turnpike, which was 
immediately followed by long-roll throughout every regiment 
in the command. The Sixth Ohio formed in line within five 
minutes, and, breaking into column by companies, marched 
rapidly out the turnpike, with General Nelson at its head. 
The sequel is graphically told in the following caustic order, 
drafted by Nelson's own hand, which was next evening read 
at the head of each regiment in the division : " Last night, the 
unexpected approach of a battalion of our own cavalry, on the 
Lebanon turnpike, created an alarm, which, if it served no 
other purpose, exposed to the General, and to the whole com- 
mand, the contemptible way in which the pickets on that road 
skulked their duty, and their poltroonery in running away from 
their posts when there was absolutely no enemy at all. Had 
there been an enemy, it was their duty, acting as skirmisherSj. 



328 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

to take advantage of the fences and the woodland, and hold 
their ground till supported, ordered in, or compelled to give 
way before a superior force, which should be done in an orderly 
manner, as becomes good soldiers. But, to the burning shame 
of our uniform, the pickets on the Lebanon pike ran away, like 
a pack of cowards, and could not be found at all by the General 
commanding when, with his staff, he arrived on the field of 
fright. It is the intention of this order to hold them up to the 
scorn of the whole command." These pickets, who belonged 
to a regiment which had lately joined the Fourth Division, had 
their arms taken from them and were set to work upon the 
fortifications. They afterward proved themselves reliable and 
gallant soldiers. 

July 31st. — The troops of the Tenth Brigade received their 
knapsacks which they had left at Reynolds' Station on the 
16th, and soon afterward marching orders came. 

The saddest event in the history of the Sixth Ohio, during 
the summer of 1862, was the death of Captain Tatem, which 
deserves more than a passing notice. He was killed in a rail- 
road accident, on the 19th of July, between Reynolds' Station 
and Columbia, when on his way to rejoin the regiment after a 
short absence occasioned by sickness. The following epitome 
of this talented officer's career prior to the war is taken from 
an appreciative sketch in the Cincinnati Enquirer^ published a 
few days after his death : 

"Captain E. H. Tatem — or, as he preferred to be designated, 
Zeke Tatem — was born in Cincinnati, on the 2d of August, 1834. 
He was the son of Henry S. Tatem, Esq., long and favorably known 
in business circles, and, after completing his education at Herron's 
Seminary, spent some time in the plumbing business, which he had 



MURFEEESBOEO'. 329 

learned with his father. After the latter's death, he was engaged 
for two years as book-keeper for Perry J. Moore, Esq., in the same 
trade. From his earliest boyhood, however, he exhibited a marked 
fondness for literature. Many of his stories and sketches are pub- 
lished, and others still remain in their original manuscript, in the 
hands of his family ; and when the proprietors of the Daily Com- 
mercial offered him the position of city editor, he gladly exchanged 
the mechanical for the reportorial profession. He was subse- 
quently employed on the Gazette^ and then on this paper, where he 
remained until the rebellion called upon him to take up arms in 
defense of his country. As a journalist, he was prompt, reliable, 
and energetic, courteous to the public and generous to his profes- 
eional brethren ; and he was also a brave soldier, an accomplished 
gentleman, and honest man." 

Captain Tatem's connection with the Guthrie Greys dated 
from the 19tli of March, 1855, and, although interrupted by 
the pressure of other duties, was immediately resumed at the 
breaking out of the war. His services as an officer of the Sixth 
Ohio, having been described in the regular course of our narra- 
tive, need not here be recapitulated. His remains were brought 
home in charge of Captain O'Dowd, of the Tenth Ohio, and 
now lie buried in the beautiful cemetery at Spring Grove. 

Cincinnati probably lost no officer of similar grade, during 
the war, whose death was more widely and deeply lamented 
than Captain Tatem's. His old associates in the profession of 
journalism called a meeting, which, with William Henry Smith 
in the chair and George S. Bennett as secretary, adopted a 
series of appropriate resolutions, embodying the following sin- 
cere and just tribute to his memory: " In the death of Captain 
Tatem, the country has lost one of its bravest and most zealous 
defenders in this hour of trial ; his regiment, one of its most 
promising officers and thorough martinets; the press of this 



330 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

city, an industrious, capable, and conscientious representative; 
and his numerous friends, a companion, liberal, whole-souled, 
and generous to a fault." 

A meeting of the officers of the regiment, also, was held in 
the court-house at Murfreesboro', on the 25th of July, "to 
express their deep sorrow at the death of Captain Tatem," 
Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson being elected chairman and 
Captain Brutton secretary. Captain Russell and Lieutenants 
Morgan and A. G. Williams were appointed a committee to 
draft suitable resolutions^ of which the following is the leading 
one : " In Captain Tatem, we have lost a brave comrade, and 
the country a tried patriot — a soldier always prompt in time of 
danger, and ever ready at the call of duty; and his death fills 
us with the greater sorrow, from the fact of his having passed 
bravely through many perils incident to a soldier's life to find, 
at last, a violent end by accident."* 

The changes among the officers of the Sixth Ohio, which re- 
main to be noted in this chapter, were as follows: Second 
Lieutenant Royse, who had been absent on recruiting service, 
etc., since January, 1862, resigned, to take effect April 14th. 
He afterward went into business in Cincinnati, which is still 
his home. Second Lieutenant Morris rejoined the regiment, 
from recruiting service, on the 25th of June, and, having been 
promoted to a first lieutenancy, dating from February 14, was, 
on the 5th of July, assigned to Company D. Second Lieuten- 
ant Gee rejoined the regiment, from sick-leave, on the 12th of 
June, but, in July, was again compelled to go to hospital, at 

* Had Captain Tatem lived, the history of the Sixth Ohio might have 
been written by an abler hand than it has been. He was known to be 
collecting materials for such a work, for some time previous to his un- 
timely decease. 



MUEFREESBORO\ 331 

Nashville, where he resigned on the 11th of September, a few 
clays after the regiment passed through that city, on its march 
northward to Louisville. Recovering his health, however, he 
subsequently became an officer in a Kentucky cavalry regi- 
ment, and served with credit to the close of the war. In com- 
mand of a detachment of his regiment, he narrowly missed 
intercepting Jefferson Davis a few hours before the historic 
capture of that personage, in the disguise of Mrs. Davis' " poor 
old mother." First Lieutenant Morgan rejoined the regiment 
on the 4th of July, from absence in general hospital ; and First 
Lieutenant Southgate, on the 27th of July, from duty as aid- 
de-camp to General Nelson. 

On the 20th of June, Second Lieutenant Albert G. Williams, 
promoted from sergeant-major, was assigned to Company B, 
but, by the same order, was detailed to act as adjutant, the 
duties of which position he had been discharging for nearly a 
month. First Sergeant James F. Irwin, of Company G, was 
appointed sergeant-major. On the 5th of July, Captain 
McAlpin, promoted from first lieutenant, was assigned to 
Company B, but remained at the head of Company C until the 
close of the month, when he assumed the duties of his own 
command. At the same date. Second Lieutenant Edmund B. 
Warren, promoted from sergeant, in Company B, to date from 
the 14th of April, was announced as unassigned ; and soon 
afterward he resigned, to date from July 11th. Lieutenant 
Warren subsequently served as adjutant in another regiment. 
Captain Clarke left the regiment, during its march after guer- 
rillas, on the 23d of July, and, proceeding to Nashville, ob- 
tained a detail for service in that city. He returned during 
the following month, but never resumed command of his com- 
pany, and finally resigned, to date from September 8th. He 
afterward held a Government clerkship at Washington, and, 



332 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

in 1866, was appointed second lieutenant in a regiment of 
regular infantry. His first service was in the Swedish army. 
On the 27th of August private Josiah W. Blanker, of Com- 
pany A, was appointed commissary-sergeant. 

On the 20th of July, Lieutenant- Colonel Anderson addressed 
a letter to the adjutant-general of the State of Ohio, recom- 
mending the following promotions : First Lieutenant Getty to 
captain, and Second Lieutenant Montagnier to first lieutenant, 
as being the ranking officers in their respective grades, and 
" worthy, loyal and competent men ; " First Lieutenant Charles 
B. Russell to captain. Second Lieutenant West to first lieuten- 
ant, and Orderly -Sergeant Joseph L. Antram, of Comjjany E, 
to second lieutenant, as " every \vay worthy of promotion ; " 
Sergeant-Major Irwin to second lieutenant, "on account of 
faithfulness and capability;" and Orderly-Sergeant J. E,. 
Kestner, of Company C, " for fidelity and courage." 



McMINNVILLE. 333 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

McMINNVILLE 

(AUGUST 1-SEPTEMBER 7, 1862.) 

"A^THEN, after the evacuation of Corinth, the Army of the 
' ' Ohio was assigned to its primal task of liberating East 
Tennessee, General Buell had obtained Halleck's permission to 
make the advance by the way of McMinnville, and thence 
eastward over the Cumberland Mountains; and although this 
permission was withdrawn almost as soon as granted, and Buell 
compelled to move by a route of his superior's choosing, Mo- 
ISIinnville was now to be occupied for another purpose, namely, 
the protection of Nashville and the vitally important line of 
the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. It was further con- 
sidered that a force there posted would be within convenient 
supporting distance of the remainder of the army, whose ad- 
vance, since the middle of July, had been quite stationary near 
Battle Creek. 

August 1st. — Starting at 5 A. M., the Fourth Division 
marched nineteen miles, over Cripple Creek and through the 
little village of Readyville to Woodbury, the borough town 
of Cannon County. The column embraced detachments of the 
Fourth Kentucky and Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, consti- 
tuting the advance, under Colonel Wynkoop, of the latter 



334 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

regiment ; the Tenth Brigade, under Colonel Grose ; the First 
and Twentieth Kentucky, of the Twenty-second Brigade, to 
•which was temporarily attached the Thirty -fifth Indiana; and 
a brigade, under Colonel Stanley M. INIatthews, at that time 
composed of the Fifty-first Ohio and Eighth and Twenty-first 
Kentucky. Colonel Hazen, of the Nineteenth Brigade, was 
left in command of the post of Murfreesboro'. 

August 2d. — " By mistake," says a diary, " the bugler at 
division head-quarters blew the reveille at one o'clock this 
morning, and was himself well blown up for it by Nelson, 
who threatened to buck and gag him if he made another such 
blunder, cheating the men out of their needed sleep, etc." 
The column started at day-break, and, climbing the long hill 
just beyond Woodbury, gained the first plateau of the Cum- 
berland Mountains, on which McMinnville is situated. It 
reached the latter place at dark, after a hard march of twenty- 
two miles, the cavalry advance driving out a small body of 
Forrest's rangers. McMinnville is the county seat of Warren 
County, and the terminus of a branch of the Nashville and 
Chattanooga Railroad, through Tullahoma and Manchester. 
Although the secession element largely predominated, it AvaSv 
found to contain several families of stanchly Union princi- 
ples, prominent among whom were the Armstrongs and Cliffs. 
Next day (Sunday), the Sixth Ohio was assigned quarters in 
the court-house, which proved very comfortable, except for the 
incredible number of fleas with which they were tenanted. 

August 4th. — At 4 A. M., the division marched to attack a 
band of rebel cavalry, in the direction of Sparta, twenty-two 
miles distant. Fording .Collins' River, three miles out, it 
reached Rock Island, after a rapid march of thirteen miles, 
found the bridge at that point destroyed, and was forced to 
cross at another ford, over Caney Fork, a mile and a half 



McMINNVILLE. 335 

below. The hill beyond was high and very steep, and by the 
time all the artillery and trains had been got over, it was 
night-fall. The cavalry, under Colonel Wynkoop, encountered 
several hundred rebels, with two pieces of cannon, and after a 
protracted but desultory skirmish, withdrew to a position nearer 
the infantry supports. "We went on picket at sunset," says 
a Company K diarist, of the Sixth Ohio ; " and being taken 
so far out that there was danger of our being cut off, the 
field officer of the day drew us in some distance, after dark. 
Meantime, a heavy thunder-storm came on, and we established 
our new posts in the woods, by the glare of lightning. We 
spent a miserable night, but heard nothing, except two yells, 
which possibly were rebel signals." 

August 5th. — The Sixth Ohio had the advance, moving at 
the first streaks of daylight. After proceeding five miles, it 
was suddenly countermarched, and the whole force returned 
to McMinnville. Many hours were consumed in recrossing 
the artillery and trains, so that it was 9 P. M. when the 
infantry went into bivouac, one mile from McMinnville, at 
the end of a long day's tramp of twenty-three miles. For- 
rest's cavalry this day picked up more than one hundred strag- 
glers, only one of whom, however, was from the Sixth Ohio — 
private Henry Bereiter, of Company G. The prisoners were 
paroled, and within the next three days nearly all returned, 
to obtain transportation to the North, greatly to the indignation 
of General Nelson, who regarded them as quasi deserters, as 
many of them undoubtedly were. " It is reported," siiys a 
private's diary, " that Bragg has crossed the Tennessee River 
a short distance above Chattanooga, with a force estimated at 
60,000 men. If so, it mesLUsfght somewhere." Coming events 
were, indeed, casting their shadows before. 

August 6th. — Considerable reenforcements of cavalry reached 



836 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

McMinnville, under the command of Brigadier-General James 
S. Jackson, of Kentucky, a warm personal friend of General 
Kelson. On the next day, regular drills were resumed through- 
out the Fourth Division. 

August 8th. — A foraging party from the Thirty-fifth Indiana, 
who had been captured and paroled the previous day, returned 
to McMinnville, and reported to General Nelson. " He gave 
them a terrible tongue-lashing," says a diary, " paraded them 
through the streets under guard, and finally lodged them in jail, 
with the consolatory assurance that he would court-martial them 
at once for their inattention to duty. A small squad of butter- 
nuts were brought in by our cavalry in the evening, which 
served to mollify the General a little. We heard to-day of the 
assassination of General. Robert L. McCook, and take sweet 
comfort from the thought that our old friends of the Ninth 
will assuredly avenge his death as it deserves." 

August 10th, Sunday. — General Nelson issued an order 
convening a general court-martial, Colonel Matthews to be 
president, and Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson one of the mem- 
bers. The weather at this season was uniformly and intensely 
hot. 

On the 11th, a train of sixty wagons was sent to Mnrfrees- 
boro', under the charge of Division Quartermaster Fee, " for 
the purpose of bringing up the property of the division there 
left behind." The escort consisted of Companies B, E, G, I, 
and K, of the Sixth Ohio, under command of Major Christo- 
pher. The men rode in the wagons, which were empty ; slept 
under them at night, at Cripple Creek, and arrived in Mur- 
freesboro' next day at 7 A. M. On the 13th, the train, increased 
to seventy-seven wagons, started to return, reaching McMinn- 
ville on the morning of the 15th, after a hot and dusty march, 
on which two or three men were sun-struck. By Nelson's 



McMINNVILLE. 337 

order, Major Christopher brought up from Murfreesboro' a 
considerable number of convalescents and malingerers, belong- 
ing to various regiments of the division. 

On Sunday, the 17th, General Nelson left McMinnville, 
with a strong escort of cavalry, under orders from General 
Buell to hasten to Kentucky and organize every available 
means for defending that State against the invasion of Kirby 
Smith, which had already begun, by an extensive raid of Scott's 
cavalry through Monticello and Somerset to London, two days' 
march in the rear of Cumberland Gap. Long before this, the 
troops of the Fourth Division had learned to place almost un- 
bounded confidence in their commander, and when Nelson, at 
the battle of Richmond — vainly struggling in the vortex of 
defeat to rally a mob of raw, undisciplined, and j)anic-stricken 
soldiers — exclaimed, in his passion of despair and wrath, "Oh, 
for one hour of the old Fourth Division ! " it was but one 
manifestation out of the many which might be cited, of the 
extent to which this feeling was reciprocated by him. Not a 
man in his division but witnessed his departure with regret. 
General Ammen, who had arrived on the preceding day, was 
the ranking officer in the division, and succeeded to its com- 
mand. 

On the 18th, at 10 A. M., in accordance with orders from 
the War Department, applying to every organization in the 
army, Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson held a special muster of 
the Sixth Ohio, for the purpose of marking improper absentees 
and dropping them from the rolls as deserters. The list in- 
cluded forty-three names, of whom about one-half afterward 
returned to the regiment — fourteen of them being restored at 
one time, by the proper order from the regimental head-quar- 
ters. At this date, fully one hundred officers and men were 
absent on detached service. 
22 



338 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

On the 19th, General Thomas arrived, and assumed com- 
mand of the troops in the vicinity of McMinnville, consisting 
at this time of the Fourth and Sixth Divisions. The latter 
command (General Wood's) was stationed along the branch 
railroad to Tiillahoma, which was now in process of repair. 
Thomas' own division, which he had left at Decherd, tempo- 
rarily under the charge of General Schoepf, came up in a few 
days, swelling his command to nearly one-half of the eifective 
force of the Army of the Ohio. On the 20th, the Thirty-sixth 
Indiana, Twenty-fourth Ohio, Twenty-third Kentucky, and 
Mendenhall's Battery marched to Smithville, northward about 
eighteen miles, to look after a body of rebels reported to be in 
that vicinity. The Sixth Ohio staid behind, and during its 
few remaining days at McMinnville, nearly the entire regi- 
ment was kept on picket or other guard duty. Lieutenant- 
Colonel Anderson, meanwhile, was at his quarters sick. On 
the 21st, the railroad was re-opened, and, for the first time in 
more than six months a train of cars arrived from Tullahoma. 
Next day, telegraphic communication was established by the 
same route, and the Fifty-first Ohio moved on another guer- 
rilla hunting expedition toward Sparta. 

For a fortniglit past, the air had been full of rumors in re- 
gard to Bragg's aggressive purposes, developing a wide-spread 
feehng, not of insecurity precisely, but unmistakably one of 
uncertainty and suspense. Buell, in truth, was fully apprized 
of the heavy concentration which the enemy had made in the 
vicinity of Chattanooga, and, with straitened means which 
were daily wasting, found himself placed in a purely defensive 
attitude. On the 24:th of August, Bragg crossed the Tennessee 
in force, at Harrison's, a few miles above Chattanooga, and 
began a rapid march northward, masking it, however, by heavy 
cavalry demonstrations, which, for a few days, left it in doubt 



M MINNVILLE. 339 

whether his objective was Nashville, or some point still further 
in the rear of Buell's army. 

Seven companies of the Sixth Ohio had been on picket duty 
for two days, when, on the night of the 23d, orders reached 
McMinnville for a concentration of Thomas' forces with other 
divisions, at Altamont, twenty odd miles south-east, there to 
contest the enemy's anticipated advance on Nashville. Simul- 
taneously, a heavy force of the enemy was reported within 
seventeen miles of McMinnville, moving directly upon it, and 
General Thomas decided to evacuate the post as speedily as 
possible. "At one o'clock this morning," says a Sixth Ohio 
diary, under date of Sunday, August 24th, "orders were sent 
us to call in our pickets, and return immediately to camp, but 
they were soon afterward modified, to the effect that we should 
remain at our posts until further orders. Being finally recalled 
at 7 A. M., we hurried back to town. There every thing was 
in motion, and in haste at that. The court-house square and 
the streets leading to it were blocked with long trains of wagons 
and ambulances, cavalry detachments, artillery, etc.; wagons 
were being loaded, the sick taken to the cars just arrived from 
Tullahoma, and officers and aids hurrying to and fro on all 
sides — every thing, in fact, indicated some sudden and unex- 
pected emergency. We were not long in discovering wjjat 
these preparations meant, but, though hurried, the evacuation 
w^as well conducted, with comparativ^ely little confusion. All 
our baggage and 'stores were removed, except a small quantity 
of forage, which was burned by the General's order, as were 
also three or four broken-down wagons and ambulances. The 
rest of our division having moved at daylight in another direc- 
tion, the Sixth Ohio was detailed to guard a division train of 
two hundred and fifty wagons back to Murfreesboro', and, un- 
der a scorching sun, started accordingly, at 10 A. M. It was 



340 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

ten o'clock at night before the rear of the train reached Wood- 
bury, by which time I was completely worn out. Without 
stopping to get supper, or even to wash, all dust-begrimed 
and dirty as I was, I lay down upon my India-rubber 
blanket, without any covering, and slept till wakened by re- 
veille, at three o'clock next morning." The regiment was 
now in charge of Major Christopher, Lieutenant-Colonel An- 
derson, who was still sick, having gone to Murfreesboro' by 
rail. 

August 25th. — The train reached Murfreesboro' about sun- 
down, and the Sixth Ohio went into bivouac on the hill-side 
facing the burnt depot, south of town. Company K was de- 
tailed as guard over a party of forty-two prisoners at the court- 
house, who were next day sent to Nashville in charge of a 
platoon under Lieutenant Thatcher. 

August 26th. — " We pitched a regular camp," says a diary, 
"in the field adjoining our last night's bivouac, and in line 
with the Second Kentucky, whence we have to go nearly 
half a mile for water. Rumors abound respecting the move- 
ments of the enemy, as well as of our own forces from Hunts- 
ville and McjSIinnville, but little appears to be known with 
certainty." 

August 27th. — "We are looking for an attack hourly, as 
Forrest is said to be at Woodbury with an overwhelming force 
of rebels. About 2 P. M., a dash was made on our pickets on 
the Shelbyville turnpike, and fifteen or twenty shots were fired 
in quick succession, whereupon long-roll was beaten and our 
whole force put under arms. Some tall scampering was done; 
one cavalryman, who had been bathing at the creek, rode in at 
a gallop, perfectly naked. A heavy detail was made from the 
Sixth Ohio to assist in the construction of rifle-pits; and, by 
order of Colonel Hazen, post commander, contrabands are en- 



McMINNVILLE. 341 

gaged in felling trees to answer the purpose of an abaftis, in 
front of our color-lines." At this date the troops were put 
upon half-rations, and so continued for just one month, or 
until they reached West Point, within one day's march of 
Louisville. 

The Sixth Ohio remained at Murfreesboro' until the 30th, 
Meantime the Fourth Division had returned to jMclNIinnville 
from Altamont, and, on the evening of the 27th, the Tenth 
Brigade (minus the Sixth, of course,) marched toward- INIur- 
freesboro', as guards for a wagon train dispatched thither for 
rations. Next day, just before descending the hill to Wood- 
bury, it was attacked by Forrest, but repulsed him handsomely, 
after several minutes' hot firing, in which Mendenhall's Battery 
rendered good service. On the 30th, the Sixth Ohio rejoined 
its brigade, and again set out for McMinnville, in rear of the 
train, which now numbered about four hundred wagons. The 
brigade bivouacked on Cripple Creek, and next day (Sunday) 
halted early, at Woodbury. On the 1st of September, it 
marched fifteen miles, past the scene of Forrest's defeat, to 
within seven miles of McMinnville, and while it was resting 
for dinner, the rear regiments, consisting of the Sixth Ohio 
and Twenty-third Kentucky, with a portion of the train, were 
ordered back to Murfreesboro'. Lieutenant-Colonel John P. 
Jackson, of the latter regiment, being the ranking officer, took 
command of the detachment and countermarched it seven miles 
to Logan's farm, for camping. Next day a hot march of nine- 
teen miles brought it again to Cripple Creek. 

Meantime, a crisis had arrived in the conduct of the cam- 
paign. On the 27th of August, Bragg reached Dunlap, and, 
pushing up the Sequatchie Valley through Pikeville, was in 
Crossville, several miles north of the latitude of McMinnville, 
on the 1st of September, and, passing Nashville by, was now 



342 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMEXT. 

moving through Sparta in the direction of Carthage, as if to 
strike Buell's line of communications at Gallatin or Bowling 
Green, with the ulterior objective of Louisville itself; which, 
indeed, was the ambitious undertaking the rebel commander 
had proposed to himself Within a week from the time that 
Bragg crossed the Tennessee, Buell had abandoned his whole 
line on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, and was hasten- 
ino- his divisions northward for a concentration at Nashville. 
Says a Sixth Ohio diary : " When we reached Murfreesboro', at 
8 A. M., (on the 3d of September,) we found the town alive 
with bustle and excitement, and crowded with soldiers. Crit- 
tenden's and Eousseau's divisions are already here, of the 
Army of the Ohio, and with these is at least one from the 
Army of the ISIississippi, commanded by General R. B. Mitch- 
ell. Troops are arriving hourly, and a rapid falling back on 
Nashville, if not indeed still further, is evidently in prog- 
ress. This is our first experience in retreating, and God grant 
it may be our last. The news from other quarters is as bad 
as what we have to send from here: Nelson's defeat and se- 
vere wounding on the 30th ultimo, at Richmond, Kentucky, 
in a battle with Kirby Smith ; movements the most threaten- 
ing on the part of the rebels, throughout Kentucky and even 
against Cincinnati; the defeat of the eastern army in a second 
battle at Bull Run ; and desperate fighting still in progress at 
Washington, as yet without definite results. For one, I must 
confess that these things depress me greatly." 

The Sixth Ohio encamped on the old grounds of the Ninth 
Michigan, in a beautiful grove directly east of the town, where, 
on the 4th of September, it was mustered for the 81st of Au- 
gust. On the same day a member of Company G was danger- 
ously stabbed in a quarrel with a comrade, and had to be left 
in hospital at Murfreesboro', where the rebels paroled him 



McMINNVILLE. 343 

• 

weeks afterward, and sent him through the lines to receive his 
discharge at Nashville. From the 4th of September to the 
7th of November no orders are recorded" in the regimental 
books, which fact is a mute but expressive commentary on the 
service performed daring this period of almost incessant march- 
ing and great privations. 

Although notified, at 8 P. M., to hold itself in readiness to 
march at a moment's notice, the regiment was permitted to 
pass the night of the 4th in quiet. Next morning the Fourth 
Division came in from McMinnville, and at 2 P. M. took up 
its line of march for Nashville, halting for the night at the 
Stone River ford, two miles north of Murfreesboro', where a 
partial supply of clothing was issued the troops. On the 6th, 
so much time was lost in waiting upon the movements of the 
trains that a march of fourteen hours in the sun and dust 
brought it no further than Lavergne, just half-way to Nash- 
ville. "Water was very scarce," says one account, "and as 
we had gone into camp rather late, it was quite ten o'clock, 
when, after supper, I got back with my canteen and tin-cup 
full, for the next morning's breakfast. Soon after halting we 
learned that the rebels before Washington had forced our troops 
back to within eight miles of the capital, and that Stonewall 
Jackson was in Maryland, with a large army, moving rapidly 
on Baltimore; also, that a small train had been captured within 
ten miles of Cincinnati, and an attack on that city was hourly 
expected. There was nothing in all this to cheer a weary, 
foot-sore, half-sick soldier, and I lay down to sleep with a 
heavier load on my spirits than I had borne for long, long 
months." 

On Sunday, the 7th, the division marched fourteen miles, to 
the suburbs of Nashville, where the Sixth Ohio bivouacked 
in an old corn-field, rich in a luxuriant crop of rag-weeds. 



344 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

Thomas' division this clay was bringing up the rear from 
Murfreesboro', the road in which direction was still blocked 
by miles of trains and artillery; other divisions, including 
those of Crittenden and Rousseau, were moving across the Cum- 
berland, and to the vicinity of Edgefield Junction, nine miles 
beyond. 



THE EACE WITH BRAGG FOR LOUISVILLE. 345 



CHAPTEE XXV. 

THE RACE WITH BRAGG FOR LOUISVILLE. 

(SEPTEMBER 8-30, 1862.) 

"ORAGG'S advance crossed the Kentucky State line en route 
-*-^ for Glasgow, on the 5th of September, at which date 
Buell's army was only toiling along the turnpike between Mur- 
freesboro' and Nashville. Railroad communication with the 
north had been almost hopelessly severed, by Morgan's partial 
destruction of the tunnel near Gallatin, and other raiding op- 
erations, and the commissariat contained scarcely ten days' 
rations for the army. Leaving the two small divisions of 
Generals Palmer and Negley, with several hundred convales- 
cents, (capable of performing garrison duty, though unfit for a 
long and severe march,) to hold the important post of Nash- 
ville, Buell at once pushed forward his remaining six divisions 
in the direction of Bowling Green. 

September 8th. — The baggage of the Fourth Division was 
stored during the preceding night at Nashville, and for the 
next two months the troops had neither tents nor knapsacks, 
nor any other clothing than that which they carried on their 
backs. Starting at 3 A. M., the division marched through 
Nashville, and over the railroad bridge across the Cumberland, 
before it was fairly light, and bivouacked at night-fall near 
Edgefield Junction, ten miles from its last camping place, hav- 



346 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

ing rested seven hours at noon to allow Crittenden to get 
ahead. Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson had rejoined the Sixth 
Ohio at Nashville. In this position the division lay expect- 
antly for two days more. On the afternoon of the 10th, there 
was an alarm, occasioned by an attack upon a wagon train a 
few miles distant, and several regiments were kept under arms 
until dark. 

September 11th. — The division marched at 6 A. M., climbed 
a long hill, and at noon halted at Tyree Springs, twelve miles 
from Edgefield Junction, where four companies of Michigan 
cavalry had just dispersed a party of rebels, after a sharp skir- 
mish. McCook coming up about 4 P. M., Ammen's division 
was obliged to move forward, and made a night march of eight 
more miles before it again found water. 

September 12th. — Starting late, the division made a tedious 
march of nine miles to Mitchells ville, just within the Tennes- 
see State line, and the Sixth Ohio being sent forward three- 
fourths of a mile on picket, found itself once more in Kentucky. 
General Buell and staflt' accompanied the Fourth Division dur- 
ing this day and most of the next. His appearance is thus 
described by a corporal of the Sixth Ohio: "He wore an un- 
dress uniform, with a straw hat and dusty jacket; neither 
Bword nor belt encumbered his person. He looked moody and 
solitary amid the thousands of his soldiers, whom he passed 
without even appearing to notice their presence. We never 
did cheer him, even when we had perfect confidence in him, as 
we had until a few weeks ago ; and now as he rode by us, 
stern, silent, care-worn, he might as well have been James' 
'solitary horseman,' for all the recognition he received. Yet 
he looked twice the soldier that Halleck used to, jogging 
along the lines at Corinth, with a tall army hat on, minus its 
cord and tassel, his head thrown forward, his shoulders up, 



/ 

THE EACE WITH BRAGG FOR LOUISVILLE. 347 

and elbows jerking about ; if he had only had a pair of sad- 
dle-bags, 'Old Brains' would have been the beau ideal of a 
country doctor." 

September 13th. — The Fourth Division started at 4 A. M., 
with the Sixth Ohio in advance, passed through Franklin 
about 8 A. M., and at sunset reached Cave Mill, two and a 
half miles from Bowling Green, after a dusty march of twenty- 
five miles, which, however, had been broken by two consider- 
able rests, occasioned by running into the rear of Crittenden's 
command. Says a diary : " Many of our men marched all day 
on less than one full meal, and even the best-provided had to 
stint themselves somewhat. Arrived at Bowling Green at 
last — the haven to which for the last week we have been anx- 
iously looking forward as a place of temporary rest and com- 
fort, and, most of all, of cleanliness — it did grate terribly, in 
our hungry, tired, and travel-sore condition, to have it an- 
nounced immediately upon our stacking arms, ' Get your sup- 
pers at once, and secure all the rest you can : Ave shall march 
again at one in the morning ! ' However, the order was mod- 
ified before tattoo, to a start at five. Our bivouac was beside 
an immense spring in a deep gulch, where the stream, after 
flowing a swift, cold current for one hundred yards, loses itself 
in a great cave, in which a mill formerly stood." 

Next day the division removed one and a half miles nearer 
Bowling Green, where the Tenth Brigade lay in an open field 
for three days more. Water was exceedingly scarce, and the 
men had resort to ponds — sometimes in common with the mule 
teams — and a small subterranean stream, which was reached by 
descending a cave and groping their way some distance in total 
darkness. . On the 15th, half rations of flour, previously col- 
lected from the mills in the vicinity, were issued, instead of 
hard-tack. This continued until the troops reached West 



348 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

Point, and, as they had no salt, no leaven of any kind, and no 
cooking utensils, the preparation of their stinted allowance in- 
convenienced and sometimes really distressed them. Green 
corn, upon which they had luxuriated during the McMinnville 
period,, was now no longer green ; but they made " graters " by 
punching holes through their tin-plates with bayonets, and by 
this means reducing the ripening ears to a kind of fine hominy, 
eked out their scanty supplies, with mush and corn-pones, the 
former made in their tin-cups and the latter baked on flat 
stones. Individual foraging became reputable, because a ne- 
cessity ; and so, by one expedient and another, Buell's army 
kept in pretty good stomach, spite of half-rations, and when it 
heard an apocryphal sort of story of Bragg's famishing hosts 
having received a distribution of pumpkins in lieu of regu- 
lar rations, it pitied them, rebels as they were, from the bottom 
of its heart. 

On the 16th, General Ammen was relieved from the com- 
mand of the Fourth Division, but accompanied it to Louis- 
ville, in command of the Twenty-second Brigade. 

Continued ill health unfitting him for the exigencies of ac- 
tive campaigning, General Aramen was relieved from duty 
with the army, on the 27th of September, and granted a few 
weeks' rest. On the 30th of October (1862), he assumed 
command at Covington, Kentucky, and, on the 10th of De- 
cember, of Camp Dennison. From the 14th of January to 
thfe 10th of April, 1863, he was in charge of Camj) Douglas, 
at Chicago, whence he was transferred to the command of the 
District of Illinois, with head-quarters at Springfield. During 
the summer and fall of that year, and while occupying this 
position, he performed valuable service in organizing and dis- 
patching needed reenforcements to the front, and also in con- 



THE EACE WITH BEAGG FOE LOUISVILLE. 349 

ducting various important courts-martial, for which descrip- 
tions of duty he was eminently fitted by habits of trained 
thought, no less than by the stores of routine knowledge ac- 
quired at West Point. In the latter part of December, 1863, 
he again took a command in the field, and for the next month 
was stationed at Camp Burnside, on the Cumberland River, in 
Kentucky. Recalled to Cincinnati, to preside over one of the 
most memorable courts-martial ever held in the department, 
he was detained there until the 24th of March, 18G4, when he 
once more proceeded to the front, and on the 11th of April 
was placed in command of the Fourth Division of the Twenty- 
third Army Corps (which included that of the District of East 
Tennessee,) with head-quarters at Knoxville. Throughout the 
remainder of that most eventful year, he held East Tennessee 
with a comparatively small force, and although at times hard 
bestead by rebel raiding expeditions, under Wheeler, Morgan, 
and others, by the exercise of tireless vigilance and energy he 
uniformly succeeded in thwarting their plans, so far as to pre- 
vent them from ever gaining any decided or permanent advan- 
tage. Of the numberless minor engagements fought by the 
various detachments of his forces, one of the principal was at 
Sweetwater, where his assistant adjutant-general. Major (then 
Lieutenant) N. A. Reed, Jr., greatly distinguished himself. 

"Wliile at Knoxville, General Ammen had many chances to 
observe the action of quasi Union men, in their efforts to sup- 
ply the rebels with provisions. Their most approved plan was 
to deceive Parson Brownlow (then Treasury Agent at Knox- 
ville), get a permit to bring ^hogs and salt' through Cumber- 
land Gap, and, at a convenient point on the road, contrive to 
get 'gobbled' by the rebels. General Ammen, by his personal 
watchfulness, soon put a stop to this rascality. At one time he 
dressed himself as a common soldier, contrived to get into con- 



350 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

versation with several of these ' Union shriekers,' and thereby 
learned their plans."* 

During Hood's invasion, his position in East Tennessee was 
a critical one, but Thomas having overwhelmingly defeated the 
rebel army at the battle of Nashville, the war at the West was 
practically ended, and, on the 4th of January, 1865, General 
Ammen resigned, and soon afterward returned home. He 
now resides at " Wyoming," near Lockland Station, Hamilton 
County, Ohio, where it is his greatest delight to dispense the 
kindliest of hospitalities to his old army friends and others, 
and, especially, to every membei of the old Tenth Brigade — 
officer or private — whose good fortune it may be to renew in 
civil life the acquaintance with " Uncle Jake,'' which was be- 
gotten amid circumstances so far different, in bivouac or the 
crash of battle. 

Brigadier-General William Sooy Smith, who succeeded to 
the command of the Fourth Division, September 16th, 1862, 
is a native of Pickaway County, Ohio, and, in the truest sense, 
a self-made man. He graduated at the Ohio University, at 
Athens, in 1849, and at West Point four years later, being 
then twenty-three years of age. The monotony of army life 
in time of peace soon becoming distasteful, he resigned, to en- 
gage in the profession of civil engineering, which he followed . 
for several years with great success, not only throughout the 
United States, but also in Canada and the West Indies. After 
a short service at Camp Dennison, as adjutant-general upon 
the staff of a three-months' militia brigadier, he was com- 
missioned colonel of the Thirteenth Ohio Infantry; fought 
gallantly at Carnifex Ferry, receiving honorable mention there- 
for in General Rosecrans' official report ; upon the recommend- 
ation of General Buell, was appointed brigadier-general of 
* " Ohio in the War." 



THE EACE WITH BRAGG FOR LOUISVILLE. 351 

volunteers, to rank from April 7, 1862, for meritorious serv- 
ice at Shiloh, where he commanded a brigade in Crittenden's 
division ; succeeded General Mitchel at the head of the Third 
Division, and was afterward placed in command of several 
thousand troops engaged in re-opening and protecting Buell's 
railroad communications, quite from Bowling Green to Ste- 
venson and Decatur. When assigned to Nelson's old " iron- 
clad" division — which, he has since assured the writer, he 
regards as the best division of troops that he ever saw in any 
army — General Smith had been for some time in command at 
Bowling Green, under orders from Buell to defend it to the 
last. His new command found him a gentleman of great 
sociability and culture, as well as a patriotic soldier. 

While the Fourth Division lay at Bowling Green, and the 
rear-guard of the array was closing up on that post, the trag- 
edy of Colonel Wildcr's capture, with over four thousand men, 
was taking place at Munfordville, or, more properly, at 
Woodsonville. Bragg had thus succeeded in throwing his 
army directly between Buell's retreating columns and Louis- 
ville, and, although Wilder's gallant resistance had cost him 
two days of precious time, he was still forty-eight hours' march 
ahead of his antagonist in the race for that city. Nothing 
but his own stupidity and lack of nerve prevented him from 
bivouacking, within ten days from that date, on the banks of 
the Ohio, though it must be said that, in no event, could he 
have maintained his position there. On the 16th of Septem- 
ber, Buell resumed his northward march, moving with a ce- 
lerity and precision really admirable, all the attending circum- 
stances taken into consideration. The bulk of his immense 
trains, or about twelve miles of wagons, were left at Bowling 
Green, to be brought up by a more westerly, and therefore a 



352 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

safer, route, under convoy of a perfect screen of cavalry, which 
object was effected in due time without the loss of a single 
wagon. 

September 17th. — Following Rousseau and Crittenden, the 
Fourth Division started at 5 A. M., on the Munfordville 
turnpike, marched through Bowling Green, and across Barren 
River by a pontoon bridge, and, after proceeding eighteen 
miles, at 6 P. M. reached Dripping Springs, sixteen miles from 
Bowling Green. Here Rousseau's and Smith's divisions took 
a cross-road — a mere lane — leading off on the right toward 
Glasgow, where the main body of the enemy was reported to 
be, and two hours after dark went into bivouac about three 
miles from Dripping Springs, in the midst of a heavy rain. 
During the day there was frequent light skirmishing with rebel 
cayalry, whose camping places of the night before were passed 
almost every mile. 

September 18th. — The provision train came up about 9 A. 
M., and the Fourth Division received half-rations for four 
days, which the hungry troops had scarcely had time to begin 
disposing of, when they were hurried into line, and began a 
slow and tedious march of twelve miles to strike the turnpike 
at Prewitt's Knob. This they did about 8 P. M., and found 
the whole of Buell's army there concentrated. Says a diary : 
" It was a magnificent sight to look down upon in the dark- 
ness — thousands of camp-fires and swarms of soldiers, all up 
and down the valley as far as the eye could reach." 

September 19th. — Before daylight, Buell began posting his 
army in line of battle, the enemy having been found in front 
in force. The Fourth Division moved four miles toward the 
Glasgow turnpike, passing four paroled regiments from Mun- 
fordville, and took position near the right of the line. Active 
skirmishing was kept up all day along the entire front. Shar- 



THE RACE WITH BRAGG FOR LOUISVILLE. 353 

ing in what was uumistakably the general desire of the men, 
many of the officers were anxious to attack the enemy, who 
had been followed with such labor and hardship, across one 
State and portions of two more, and to strike the blow, which, 
if successful, must have proved his ruin ; but Buell deemed the 
hazard too great, and the majority of his division commanders 
acquiesced in the decision. For two and a half days the situa- 
tion remained unchanged ; then it was discovered that Bragg 
had withdrawn across Green River, and Buell follow^ed at 
once. 

September 21st, Sunday. — At sunset the Fourth Division 
marched for the Glasgow turnpike at Bear Wallow, followed 
it three miles, and crossing in the night, on a horrible road to- 
ward Woodsonville, chiefly through woods, about midnight 
went into bivouac, twelve miles from its starting place. 

September 22d. — Troops continued moving forward rapidly, 
and the advance had some skirmishing. Smith's division re- 
mained under arms all day, but, being almost the rear of the 
army, did not move until evening, and then merely changed 
camp three miles to Woodsonville, where the troops had an op- 
portunity of examining the fort, etc., that Colonel W^ilder had 
so gallantly defended. 

September 23d. — Fording Green River at sunrise, the divis- 
ion marched through Munfordville, where were several rebel 
hospitals, with yellow flags flying, halted for dinner at Bacon 
Creek, and an hour after dark encamped on the old site of 
Camp Nevin, on Nolin Creek, after a hot day's march of 
twenty miles. Numerous squads of paroled rebels, captured 
by the advance divisions, were passed during the day. Bragg, 
at night, was reported within two days' march of Louisville. 
He was no longer between Buell and that city, however, hav- 
ing gone off to Bardstown, in contemplation of a junction with 
23 > 



35i THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

Kirby Smith, and, in reality, was almost at the end of his 

tether. 

September 24th. — A rapid march of twenty-three miles, 
through Elizabethtown, and over the old familiar scenes be- 
yond, brought the Fourth Division, in good season, to within 
ten miles of West Point. " Excepting sore feet," says a Sixth 
Ohio diary, " we are in good condition, and all feel confident 
of bagging Mr. Bragg and his fellow rebs." 

September 25th. — The division reached West Point early; 
there it waited eight hours for the troops and trains in ad- 
vance to get over, then crossed Salt River on a pontoon 
bridge, and shortly after dark encamped on the banks of the 
Ohio, two miles toward Louisville. " We had full rations is- 
sued us again to-day," says another diary, " with crackers in- 
stead of flour. Sweeter morsel I never tasted than the first 
mouthful of hard-tack this morning. Good-by gunpowder 
biscuits and ramrod rolls! The very thought of you 'makes 
me disgust,' as Don Pedro says." 

September 26th. — By noon, the division was in Louisville, 
twenty miles from West Point — like the rest of the army, 
covered with dust and travel-stained, ragged, foot-sore, and in 
a decidedly rebellious frame of mind toward General Buell, 
whom thousands openly denounced as a traitor in direct col- 
lusion with General Bragg, his brother-in-law. It was 
marched two miles further, through the city, to " Goose Is- 
land,'' between the canal and the falls of the Ohio, where for 
four days the Sixth Ohio lay in a potato-field, (which was a 
field of potatoes on its arrival there, and perhaps for one hour 
longer), was duly inspected on Sunday, the 28th, and next day 
received the supply of clothing which it so much needed. It 
luxuriated immensely in its unlimited facilities for bathing in 
the Ohio, and was visited by Colonel Bosley and other friends 



THE RACE WITH BRAGG FOR LOUISVILLE. 355 

from Cincinnati ; in addition to which, many of its members 
found old acquaintances in Louisville. 

Colonel Bosley had been honorably discharged (though not 
of his own election) on account of physical disability, to date 
from the preceding 19th of August. He died at the house of 
his brother, in Cincinnati, on the 1st of December, 1866, after 
great suffering from the disease which had been gradually un- 
dermining his constitution for years — consumption — ^and is 
now buried at Spring Grove. He was an excellent drill-mas- 
ter, and had many warmly-attached friends, especially among 
the old members of the Guthrie Grey organization. He was 
unmarried. 

A resume of the service performed by the Sixth Ohio, from 
the 4th of June, when the Fourth Division left Corinth, to the 
26th of September (1862), when it reached Louisville, shows 
that during these one hundred and fifteen days it marched seven 
hundred and thirty miles, without including its trip by rail to 
Murfreesboro', or a vast amount of picket and other duty, on 
which portions of the regiment only were engaged. During 
the thirty-four days embraced between the 24th of August, 
which was the date of the first evacuation of McMinnville, to 
the 26th of September, inclusive, it marched three hundred 
and sixty -three miles, and was twenty-nine days on half-rations. 

At the close of September, Surgeon Stephens had been ab- 
sent from the regiment for several months, or quite since the 
evacuation of Corinth, having reached Murfreesboro' a day or 
two after the division moved to McMinnville, and been placed* 
in charge of Soule General Hospital, and afterward receiving, a 
detail for similar duty at Nashville. Captain Erwin had so 
far recovered from the effects of his wound as to have per- 



356 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

formed valuable service on the staff of General Nelson at 
Louisville, but was still unable to take the field. Meantime, 
he was recruiting for the regiment in Cincinnati. First Lieu- 
tenant Southgate had been on duty at General Ammen's head- 
quarters, as aid-de-camp, for several weeks. First Lieutenants 
Morris and Morgan had been left at Nashville, sick. The 
latter resigned, to date from September 11th, returned to Cin- 
cinnati, and is now in business there. On the 15th of Septem- 
ber, Second Lieutenant Anderson was appointed assistant 
adjutant-general of volunteers, with the rank of captain, for 
Brigadier-General Terrill, who had just received his thrice-de- 
served promotion from the command of a battery. Captain An- 
derson remained in service until the beginning of 1864, hold- 
ing a position, during most of the intervening time, on the 
staff of General Burnside, commanding the Department of the 
Ohio. He was an exceedingly efficient and popular staff officer, 
with a more than ordinary range of talent. He is now resid- 
ing near Cincinnati, where he is extensively engaged in the 
manufacture of native wines, and the kindred pursuits of hor- 
ticulture. Lieutenant Gilman, though still a prisoner in the 
hands of the enemy, was promoted to a second lieutenancy 
some time during September, and his name transferred to the 
rolls of Company A. Second Lieutenant Gettier accompanied 
the regiment to Louisville, but had no command, and soon 
afterward his connection with the army ceased. 

The following were the officers on duty with the Sixth Ohio, 
who took part in " the Kentucky campaign," in the fall of 
1862, including the march to Louisville, the expulsion of 
Bragg from Kentucky, and the return to Nashville : Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Anderson, Major Christopher, Quartermaster 
Shoemaker, Assistant Surgeon Ames, and Acting Adjutant 
Williams ; Captains Tinker, Russell, McAlpin, Westcott, and 



THE RACE WITH BRAGG FOR LOUISVILLE. 357 

Briitton (the latter absented himself at Louisville and did not 
make the return march southward) ; First Lieutenants Getty, 
Russell, Donovan, and Thatcher ; and Second Lieutenants West 
and Choate, the latter of whom was left at Louisville, sick, on 
the 1st of October. The number of line officers " present for 
duty " having become so greatly reduced — principally from res- 
ignations and details for staff duty, as noted in preceding chap- 
ters — it was found necessary to anticipate the promotions of the 
following non-commissioned officers, so far as to devolve upon 
them the ordinary duties of second lieutenants, namely : Ser- 
geant-Major Irwin, and First Sergeants Kestuer, Holmes, Fos- 
ter, Antram, and Meliue. 



358 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

NELSON. 

ON the 29th of September (1862), between the hours of 
eight and nine o'clock in the morning, at the Gait House, 
in Louisville, General Nelson was shot by Brigadier-General 
Jefferson C. Davis, of Indiana, with whom he had had an alter- 
cation a few minutes before, and died within less than half an 
hour. That very forenoon he had set apart for the purpose 
of visiting his faithful old Fourth Division, and with his own 
hand presenting the Ninth Indiana with a stand of colors, for 
conspicuous gallantry at Shiloh;* and when the troops, in the 
midst of busy and well-pleased preparations for giving him a 
fitting welcome, were suddenly apprized of the terrible occur- 
rence of the morning, their indignation knew no bounds. Had 
the homicide appeared within reach of the Fourth Division 
that day, there is every reason to believe that neither the re- 
straints of discipline nor authority could have prevented a 
violent and summary retaliation on the part of that infuriated 
command. 

On the afternoon of the next day he was buried. General 
Smith had command of the funeral escort, and Lieutenant- 

*The banner in question actually passed into the hands of the Ninth 
Indiana, though not until after the battle of Chickamauga. It bore this 
inscription : " Shiloh — General Nelson to the Ninth Regiment Indiana Vol- 
unteers." 



NELSON. 359 

Colonel Anderson of the infantry portion of it, consisting of 
detachments from each regiment of the division, organized as 
one battalion of twelve hundred men. An exceedingly solemn 
and impressive service was held at Christ (Episcopal) Church, 
on Second Street, conducted by Rev, J. C. Talbott, of Calvary 
Church, the minister who was with the dying commander until 
his great soul passed away. The remains were then escorted 
to Cave Hill Cemetery, whence, after paying their dead chief- 
tain a soldier's last honors, the weary escort returned to Louis- 
ville, reaching camp at 9 P. M. Subsequently, General Nel- 
son's remains were removed to Camp Dick Robinson, and 
there interred with appropriate ceremonies, on the 21st of 
August, 1863.* This is the locality which Nelson's exertions 
made historic, as the site of the first Union camp organized in 
Kentucky, and the point where border loyalty crystallized into 
action, at the critical j^eriod when the State was fast gravitating 
toward secession, through the treachery of its executive, under 
the mask of a quasi neutrality. It was a fitting spot to select 
for his last resting-place, who was " Kentucky's first and great- 
est soldier." 

William Nelson was born on the 27th of September, 1824, 
in Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky, where his father was 
an eminent physician, and his only sister, now the wife of 
J. M. Stockton, Esq., is still living. Of his two surviving 
brothers, one, Anderson D. Nelson, is a field officer in the 
First United States Infantry; and the other, Hon. Thomas 
H. Nelson, of Indiana, was minister from the United States 
to the Court of Chili, for several years, during the administra- 

* The oration delivered on this occasion, by Rev. D. R. Campbell, LL D., 
of Georgetown, Kentucky, is one of the principal authorities which the 
writer has consulted in the preparation of this chapter. 



360 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

tion of Presidents Lincoln and Jolinson. Early In the year 
1840, William Nelson graduated at the Naval Academy at 
Annapolis, and was commissioned midshipman. The sloop of 
war Yorktown, to which he was first attached, soon afterward 
joined the Pacific Squadron, where he remained somewhat 
more than two years, familiarizing himself with the practical 
details of his profession. In 1843, the Yorktown returned to 
New York, and Nelson, after a few months' service in another 
vessel, and a visit home while awaiting orders, was ordered to 
Annapolis for examination, with a view to promotion. On 
the 11th of July, 1845, he received his commission as passed 
midshipman, and was then ordered to the frigate Raritan, at- 
tached to the Home Squadron, and the flagship of Commodore 
David Conner. At the siege of Vera Cruz, in the Mexican 
war, where he commanded one of the three guns of the steamer 
Scourge, young Nelson greatly distinguished himself both by 
.his personal gallantry and skill as an artillerist, being after- 
ward voted a sword and appointed acting master of the 
Scourge. The fact that in after life he made the science of 
gunnery an especial study explains one phenomenon that ex- 
cited ^cat admiration on the part of the Fourth Division at 
Shiloh, namely, Nelson's manifest familiarity with artillery 
service and his success in sighting one of Terrill's guns. 

Leaving the Scourge in April, 1848, he was next ordered 
to the steamer Michigan, a one-gun vessel built expressly for 
service on the lakes, but was soon afterward transferred to the 
razeed ship of the line Independence, then the flagship of Com- 
modore Morgan, commanding the Mediterranean Squadron. 
"While on duty as one of the acting masters of this vsssel, he 
was transferred to the Cumberland, a forty-four gun frigate, as 
its only acting master. He continued cruising in the Mediterra- 
nean over two years, or until some time during the year 1851, 



NELSo:iir. 361 

when he returned to his native country in the steam frigate 
Mississippi, which brought over the great Hungarian leader, 
Kossuth, whom he accompanied in part of his journey through 
the United States, and then returning home was granted leave 
of absence. On the 19th of September, 1854, having mean- 
time made another short cruise, he was promoted to the rank 
of master, and ordered to the fifty- four-gun frigate Independ- 
ence, stationed in the Pacific, and carrying the flag of Commo- 
dore William Mervine. On the 18th of April, 1855, he was 
promoted to a lieutenancy, and placed in command of the 
storeship Fredonia, stationed in the bay of Valparaiso, as a 
depot of supplies for the squadron in the Pacific, where he 
continued until 1857, when he temporarily joined the expedi- 
tion of Commodore Perry to China and Japan. He made 
many warm friends while in Chili, and one of the most ap- 
preciative tributes which his untimely death called forth is that 
by an eminent citizen and publicist of Santiago, the capital of 
that country. Toward the close of 1857, Lieutenant Nelson 
returned home, and during the following year made a short 
cruise on the frigate Niagara, at the time that she was selected to 
carry back to Africa the negroes taken from the steamer Echo. 
He was next ordered to the sloop Saint Louis, belonging to 
the Home Squadron, on which station he remained from the 
beginning of 1859, to May, 1860, when he was ordered home 
and placed on duty at the Washington Navy-yard, as ord- 
nance officer. 

Lieutenant Nelson took an active and prominent part in 
making the arrangements necessary to frustrate the designs of 
the bad and desperate men who were plotting to prevent Mr. 
Lincoln's inauguration, and, if possible, to seize upon the Gov- 
ernment, in the interests of the Southern conspirators. Shortly 
after this, when the waves of secession began to surge and dash 



362 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

against Kentucky, threatening to sweep her into the vortex of 
rebellion, Nelson, strong in the confidence of the Government 
as a man of cajjacity, energy, and incorruptible patriotism, was 
quietly sent to his native State to rally the Union elements, to 
encourage and arm the loyal Home-Guards, to recruit volun- 
teers, to establish camps of instruction, and to do whatever 
else mio-ht be required in order to save the State from seces- 
sion, even to the extent of holding and defending its territory 
by force of arms, if necessary. This delicate and difficult 
service culminated in the establishment of Camp Dick Robin- 
son, which was scarcely opened, when the rebels invaded Ken- 
tucky, as Nelson had foreseen they would do, at four distinct 
and commanding points, with the expectation of a general 
rising of their friends throughout the State, large bodies of 
whom had been secretly organized, armed, and equipped for 
this very purpose. They were foiled in the essential portions 
of their plan to seize the State by a coup de main, by the 
timely preparations of the Government, eifected mainly through 
the instrumentality of Nelson. His eminent services were fully 
appreciated at Washington, and on the 16th of September 
(1861), he was commissioned Brigadier-General of Volunteers, 
being reported on the Naval Register as " on detached service," 
and ^at the time of his death holding the rank of lieutenant 
commander. The wisdom of this appointment he fully dem- 
onstrated in a few weeks by an intensely vigorous campaign in 
Eastern Kentucky, marked by the successful actions of Pike- 
ton, Ivy Mountain, etc., and the temporary expulsion of the 
rebels under Humphrey Marshall from that portion of the 
State. One interesting fact connected with this campaign, 
which has never before been made public, is thus adverted to 
by an intimate friend of General Nelson, in a private letter : 
" The conference which General Nelson had with Mr. Lincoln 



NELSON. 363 

and the cabinet, before returning to the West, to organize his 
expedition into Eastern Kentucky, so impressed them with his 
integrity and great ability as to induce the Government to 
place at his command a large amount of money, and I am per- 
sonally cognizant of the fact that at the close of that campaign 
he turned over to the department $60,000 in gold. No man 
in all my army acquaintance was more careful of public prop- 
erty, or could show a better balance-sheet for the interest of 
the Government." 

Returning from Eastern Kentucky, Nelson was placed at 
the head of the Fourth Division of Buell's army, then just or- 
ganizing, and in this command performed those great and sig- 
nal services which form the burden of many preceding pages 
of this volume. In a preeminent sense. Nelson was the §avior 
of the Army of the Tennessee on the battle-field of Shiloh. It 
was his soldierly prevision of General Grant's peril, his indom- 
itable energy in fording Duck Hiver, and his promptitude in 
the subsequent march to Savanna, that brought the Fourth 
Division — leading the way for Buell's whole army — to within 
supporting distance of Pittsburg Landing three days before the 
date which Grant had pre-arranged for its transfer to that po- 
sition. Who can contemplate, without a shudder, the conse- 
quences that must almost inevitably have followed if Buell's 
forces had remained upon the northern bank of Duck River 
until the 2d of April, waiting for the bridge to be completed — 
as there is good reason to believe they would have done, but for 
Nelson's irrepressible activity and strong will? or, if they 
had delayed to concentrate at Waynesboro', as Halleck advised 
on the 3d of April, fortunately too late to check the rapid 
movements of the advance division, then many miles toward 
Savanna ? or, if Nelson had regulated his march, and, in eifect, 
that of Crittenden and McCook, by the suggestion contained in 



364 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

Grant's dispatch of the 4th, that any degree of haste was un- 
necessary, since it would be impossible to furnish him trans- 
portation up the river before the 7th or 8th? From this stand- 
point, even more than by his superb bearing and achievements 
on the field, the extent of Nelson's services are to be estimated ; 
and tlie jjcr version of historic facts in regard to Shiloh — which 
not merely seeks to rob General Nelson of his justly-earned 
and brilliant fame, birt would actually make him a scape-goat 
for the blunders of that amazingly crude campaign in which 
Grant and Sherman were simply learning their business, (as 
they did learn it in time, and that most thoroughly,) — is a 
grievous wrong to the memory of a great soldier and most loyal 
spirit. It is, moreover, decidedly unjust to the gallant men 
whom Nelson commanded. 

No commander during the war enjoyed the confidence of his 
troops in greater degree than did General Nelson at the head 
of the Fourth Division, which might almost be said to have 
been his own creation. He made it what it was, and that was 
a body of trained soldiers second, in no respect, to any in the 
service. Says General Buell : " He was untiring in his efforts 
to discipline and prepare his command for effective service. 
This he accomplished thoroughly ; and although at first many 
of his officers chafed under a control to which they were not 
accustomed, and which admitted no compromise between au- 
thority and obedience, yet in the end they learned to appreciate 
its importance, and the division became distinguished for its 
discipline and high tone." Without desiring to amplify on 
this point, we may properly allude, in passing, to General 
Smith's estimate of the Fourth Division, as noted elsewhere, 
and also quote the following, from General Palmer's official 
report of the battle of Stone River: "The whole division 
fought like soldiers trained under the rigid discipline of the 



NELSON. 365 

lamented Nelson ; and by their courage proved that they had 
caught a large portion of his heroic and unconquerable spirit." 

When, in August (1862), the enemy's cavalry severed Buell's 
communications with Louisville, and Kirby Smith was about 
to invade Kentucky in force, Nelson was detached to take 
charge of affairs in that State, and meet the coming storm. 
" No man," writes General Buell, " seemed to me so suitable 
for the emergency as General Nelson ; and on the 16th of Au- 
gust I ordered him to repair to Kentucky, organize the new 
troops and the few old ones that were there, guard against the 
threatened invasion, and re-open our severed communications." 
Reacliing Louisville,' Nelson found that Kentucky had been 
placed in a new department, under the command of General 
Wright, an officer junior to himself; but, waving all consider- 
ations of rank, at once addressed himself to his new and ardu- 
ous duties. With the exception of the Eighteenth Kentucky, 
all the troops in the department were raw and undisciplined. 
Proceeding to Lexington, he found that Kirby Smith was ad- 
vancing, and hastily collected such fragmentary forces as were 
at hand to oppose him, not with a view to attack, but to ma- 
neuver, and gain time for making necessary preparations. In 
his absence, however. General Manson risked and lost the bat- 
tle of Richmond. Late in the day. Nelson made his appear- 
ance, and, with almost superhuman efforts, strove to rally the 
retreating forces, but in vain. He was wounded, and narrowly 
escaped capture. 

His wound, though painful, proved not to be a dangerous 
one, and in a short time — before he had recovered from its 
effects, indeed — he was again at his post, organizing the new 
troops that were constantly arriving at Louisville from Ohio, 
Indiana, Illinois, and other North-western States, and making 
the most energetic preparations for the defense of that city 



366 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

against the attack threatened by Bragg. When Buell reached 
Louisville, and, in the reorganization of his army, divided it 
into three corps, Nelson was selected to command one of them, 
consisting of his own old Fourth and two other divisions, 
which afterward constituted the "left wing," under General 
T. L. Crittenden. He was about to assume the duties of this 
position, when his life was suddenly cut short by the hand of 
a brother officer in the Union army. Undoubtedly the provo- 
cation was great, but it was an awful retaliation ; and when 
we remember that Davis shot an unarmed man, going peace- 
fully to his own chamber, none can justify the terrible act of 
Nelson's taking off. 

General Nelson was a man of extraordinary force of char- 
acter, and wonderful endowments, both physically and men- 
tally. Indomitable will, amazing energy, an absolutely fearless 
courage — all the qualities, indeed, which fit men for leadership 
among their fellows — he possessed in a preeminent degree. Al- 
though our narrative has embodied many striking illustrations 
of these traits in the character of General Nelson, we can not 
forbear adding one more, in an anecdote related by his intimate 
friend, Dr. J. Taylor Bradford, of Augusta, Kentucky : " He 
was a man of most powerful intellect and indefatigable perse- 
verance. I remember once, at the foot of one of the mountains 
in Eastern Kentucky, a native said to him, ' General, you can't 
cross that mountain with your teams; it is simply implossible.* 
He replied, with characteristic emphasis, ' By G — , sir, nothing 
is impossible with these men ! If I can not cross it, I will 
tunnel it. We shall go forward, sir!' He spliced his teams, 
ordered twenty-five men to each wagon, and they literally 
lifted the wagons out of the mud." 

Possessed of a remarkably comprehensive mind, and great 



NELSON. 367 

originality as well as grasp of thought, he was also a close ob- 
server and thorough student at every period of his life. The 
variety and extent of his attainments were very great. To quote 
the admirably-expressed language of Rev. Dr. Campbell on this 
point: "Only those who knew Nelson well can have any idea 
of the grasp and varied power of his great intellect, or of his 
vast and well-digested stores of knowledge on almost every 
subject of interest. He was master of five or six languages, 
and had laid under most exacting tribute the resources of his- 
tory, literature, and professional science, laid open to him by 
means of those languages, as well as by travel and intercourse 
with eminent men of diiferent countries. He was perfectly 
familiar with all the leading questions which have agitated his 
own and other countries in modern times. He had also this 
great advantage over most men of intelligence, that he seemed 
never to forget any thing of importance that he had ever heard, 
seen, or read. He seemed to be a living, moving library, every 
map, volume, pamphlet, and page of which lay open just at 
the place any occasion required." Says Dr. Bradford : " Nel- 
son was a man of fine perceptive powers, an extensive reader 
also, and a close student of the mind and actions of every one 
with whom he was brought in contact. He knew more about 
the character and history of the prominent men of this and 
other countries than any one I ever knew. He had seen more 
or less of almost every country on the face of the globe, and ac- 
quired a mass of information that was a perfect library of social 
wealth. When he was in a good humor and free from care 
(which, however, was not often the case), he was the most genial 
and entertaining of conversationalists, holding his friends spell- 
bound in astonishment at the richness and variety of his mental 
resources." The testimony of Generals Buell and Ammen is 
of a similar character. And Colonel Anderson, who knew him 



368 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

better than any other regimental commander in the Fourth 
Division, has repeatedly declared that he never met any man 
who so deeply impressed him" with the idea of genius as did 
General Nelson. 

" Nor was Nelson," wrote a journalist of Louisville, most 
truthfully, at the time of his death, " wholly without the softer 
graces of character or the gentler tastes of refined life. Pre- 
eminently a generous man, his heart was as open to the appeal 
of suffering as a woman's. Music and poetry he loved pas- 
sionately, and the former, especially, he comprehended like a 
master. Sitting with him in his room but the other night, in 
a brief interval of business, we were surprised to hear him 
whistle, with evident appreciation, * II Trovatore,' and still 
more surprised when he proceeded to recount, in a strain of 
enthusiasm, the circumstances under which he first heard that 
glorious opera at Naples, with the unutterable delight which 
it then afforded him. He seemed, for the moment, transformed 
into the poet and dilettante. Presently, however, some officer, 
belted and spurred, came rushing into the room upon business, 
and the impassioned amateur of music was again the rough 
and stalwart soldier. We left him with the conviction that his 
daring and impetuous spirit cherished in its depths riches of 
which the world suspected nothing." 

But there are spots upon the sun; and Nelson, with many 
grand qualities, possessed great and obvious faults. Alas! 
that the symmetry of his character was so marred by violence 
of temper, and at times by an overbearing manner and insuf- 
ferable coarseness of expression. These were doubtless intens- 
ified by his quarter-deck training, but they did not originate 
there. They 

"Accompanied the greatness of his blood, 
And held their level with his noble heart." 



NELSON. 369 

Alas ! that he never learned the lesson which the wise man 
teaches : " He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty ; 
and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city." 

Yet he was ever frank and open in his enmities as in his 
friendships, and in the latter no man was ever more constant 
or generous. Harsh though he might be in moments of 
anger, no officer ever appreciated better than he the merits of 
a subordinate, or a faithful performance. of duty in any grade, 
and none was ever more careful of the welfare and comfort 
of his men. His was a loyal and truthful nature, despising 
shams, no matter in what guise presented, and incapable of 
double-dealing in any respect. He withstood the blandish- 
ments of secession that sufficed to make traitors of such men 
as Stonewall Jackson, Lee, and Albert Sidney Johnston, 
though they were plied by John C. Breckinridge and others 
of high position, who had been his warm and some of them 
his life-long friends. To be a Kentuckian of aristocratic con- 
nections, pro-slavery by prejudice and education, with peculiar 
susceptibilities to temptation from the stirrings of ambition 
common to strong and commanding spirits, yet to remain un- 
waveringly loyal from first to last, was no small merit. What- 
ever may be said of his redundancies of character as a man, 
his services in the nation's cause were as pure in motive as 
they were undeniably able in execution. They were such 
services as weave a mantle broad enough, like charity, to cover 
a multitude of sins, and form a crown of everlasting glory. 

24 



370 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMEXT. 



CHAPTEE XXVII. 
PERRYVILLE, WILDCAT, AND NASHVILLE AGAIN: 

(OCTOBER 1-DECEMBER 25, 1S62.) 

DURING its short stay at Louisville, the Army of the 
Ohio was reorganized and divided into three corps, re- 
spectively commanded by Major-Generals McCook and Crit- 
tenden, and Brigadier-General Charles C. Gilbert, General 
Thomas being made second in command of the whole army. 
Gilbert, who had been Halleck's inspector-general during the 
advance on Corinth, was in no respect entitled to the impor- 
tant command which General Buell conferred upon him, and 
within a month was superseded by General Thomas. The 
divisions of Smith, Wood, and Van Cleve (the last-named be- 
ing Crittenden's successor in command of the Fifth Division) 
constituted the Second Corps, under command of General Crit- 
tenden. But these changes were of much less consequence 
than the accession of nearly or quite 30,000 new troops to the 
war-worn ranks of Buell's army, most of whom were distrib- 
uted among the old commands — one or two regiments to a 
brigade. The Fourth Division received the Eighty-fourth and 
One Hundred and Tenth Illinois, and the Ninetieth Ohio, of 
which the first-named was assigned to the Tenth Brigade. 
This regiment rendezvoused at Quincy, Illinois, mustered Sep- 
tember 1st (1862), with an aggregate of nine hundred and 



PEERYVILLE, WILDCAT, AND NASHVILLE AGAIN. 371 

forty-two, reached Louisville on the 26th of the same month, 
and was commanded by Colonel Louis H. Waters, an officer 
of several months' experience as lieutenant-colonel of another 
regiment. 

October 1st, Wednesday. — Buell's army again turned its foot- 
steps southward — newly-clad, greatly rested, and confident of 
victory, if the enemy could but be brought to battle. It moved 
in five columns, the left on Frankfort and the right on Shepards- 
ville, under instructions which contemplated a concentration 
at Bardstown, where the main body of Bragg's forces was sup- 
posed to be. The Fourth Division formed part of the heaviest 
of these columns, and this day marched seven miles, directly 
out the Bardstown turnpike. The advance, under General 
Sill, found rebel cavalry within six or eight miles of Louis- 
ville, and had a skirmish at Floyd's Fork. 

October 2d. — The Fourth Division (whose movements our 
brief record must henceforth be understood to chronicle, unless 
otherwise specified) marched eleven miles to Floyd's Fork. 
Sharp skirmishing occurred a few miles ahead, wdth half an 
hour's rapid cannonading about noon. 

October 3d. — Marched eleven miles, through Mount Wash- 
ington, to a position where the advance divisions had formed 
in line of battle, just beyond Salt River, in consequence of 
vigorous opposition from the rebel outposts. 

October 4th. — Marched eight miles to a creek within six 
miles of Bardstown, which place Wood's advance entered late 
in the afternoon, driving out the enemy's rear-guard. Polk, 
whose corps it was that had there been posted, fell back toward 
Harrodsburg and Bryantsville. Next day the division marched 
through Bardstown to a camping place two miles beyond, and 
on the 6th, nineteen miles, to Cartwright's Creek, two miles 



372 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

west of Springfield. Buell was now pressing Bragg vigorously, 
determined to bring him to a stand. 

October 7th. — ^larched twenty-two miles through Spring- 
field and Haysville, and nearly two hours after dark went into 
bivouac on Eolling Fork, four miles oif the turnpike, whither 
Crittenden found it necessary to march his whole corps for 
water. The weather was dry and hot, and the roads dusty. 
The weary troops were just getting supper when the Sixth 
Ohio was ordered out on picket. Skirmishing had been in 
progress nearly all day. The enemy were in force at Perry- 
ville, where Buell intended to attack him. 

October 8th, Wednesday. — Marched at 7 A. M., toward the 
turnpike, four miles distant, and while halting there, to allow 
time for the trains and artillery to pull out, heard the roar of 
cannon, which was quickly followed by the announcement that 
Gilbert had engaged the enemy and jirobably begun the long- 
expected battle. Smith's division, the advance of Crittenden's 
corps, was now on the Lebanon turnpike, seven or eight miles 
from Perryville. On the left, Gilbert's corps, constituting the 
center, was already in position, on the Springfield road, while 
still further to the left McCook was closing in upon the 
Macksville road. Heavy skirmishing was going on directly 
in front, and cannonading still continued on the left, when, 
about 11 A. M., Smith halted his division, after a rapid march 
of foiu' more miles, and formed it directly across the turnpike ; 
which disposition, though leaving a wide gap between him and 
Gilbert, was evidently the most judicious possible under the 
circumstances, in order to hold the road until Van Cleve and 
Wood could be brought up, as they were, during the afternoon, 
and deployed toward the left, so as to fill the interval in that 
direction. The Tenth Brigade was drawn up in two lines im- 
mediately south of the turnpike, and held the extreme right 



PERRYVILLE, WILDCAT, AND XASHVILLE AGAIX. 373 

of the Union line, the exact reverse of its position at Shiloh. 
For hours the troops lay in the sun, momentarily expecting to 
be ordered forward, for the purpose of a diversion, if nothing 
more ; but General Buell (incredible as it seems) did not even 
learn that a battle was in progress until 4 P. M., and so the 
day declined, the shadows lengthened, and still no orders for 
the Fourth Division.* There was fitful skirmishing all the 
afternoon, with some artillery firing, and once or twice a bril- 
liant cavalry charge, but not a regiment of Crittenden's in- 
fantry got into action until late in the day, when Wood had 
the good fortune to be enabled to lend a helping hand in re- 
pelling a flank attack upon General E,. B. Mitchell's division, 
holding the right of Gilbert's corps. At sunset the Tenth 
Brigade advanced a short distance to a more commanding po- 
sition, and threw forward a heavy picket, consisting in part of 
Company K, of the Sixth Ohio, under Lieutenant Thatcher, 
and that night the whole army slept in line, under the softest 
and brightest of autumnal moons, and full of the thoughts of 
battle to be renewed at daylight. Two hours' skirmishing, 
however, in which the Sixth Ohio pickets bore a conspicuous 

*The writer once had the following statement from a general officer, 
whose high character, no less than the command which he held at the pe- 
riod under consideration, entitles it to credence : Generals Thomas and Crit- 
tenden, both of whom were on the ground and in the same state of ex- 
pectancy as the men, at one time during the afternoon were about taking 
the responsibility of attacking without orders, when they were dissuaded 
from it by the representations of a " Union citizen," just arrived by a cir- 
cuitous route from Perryville, who informed them that Bragg had concen- 
trated 30,000 men and several batteries of artillery to receive the threats 
ened attack on the Lebanon road. This story was ingeniously elaborated, 
but although containing some particles of truth, was in the main a fabri- 
cation, and there can be scarcely a doubt that the worthy farmer (as he 
appeared to be) was a spy of General Bragg' a. 



374 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

part, next morning developed the foct that the enemy had re- 
treated, whereupon the Fourth Division marched about three 
miles across the country to the vicinity of Kochester Springs, 
and, there bivouacking, by night-fall had learned full particulars 
respecting McCook's blundering, and the bloody struggle of the 
day before. Generals Terrill and Jackson, both well known 
to the Sixth Ohio, had been killed, Colonel Lytle severely 
wounded and afterward taken prisoner, the Third and Tenth 
Ohio fearfully cut uj), and other brave officers and men had 
iallen by thousands. 

It was long customary in the Army of the Cumberland to 
speak of the battle of Perryville as having been delivered by 
Bragg with the object of saving his trains, now laden with 
the spoils of three or four weeks undisturbed occupancy of the 
richest portions of Central Kentucky. But it is difficult to 
believe that this was the limit of Bragg's hopes or expecta- 
tions. When he decided to stand and fight at Perryville, he 
imagined Buell's army to be much more widely scattered 
than it really was, and was especially deceived in regard to 
the strength of the Union column directed upon Frankfort. 
Flushed with the confidence begotten of six weeks unwaver- 
ing success, he seems at that time not yet to have abandoned 
the hope of wintering in Kentucky, and probably supposed he 
could here begin the task of beating Buell's army in detail, 
though he had but five divisions on the field himself. A brief 
but desperate collision convinced him of his error, whereupon 
he hastily retired toward Harrodsburg, to form a junction with 
Kirby Smith; thence, on the 11th, to Bryantsville and Camp 
Dick Robinson, behind Dick's River, and on the 13th, began a 
rapid march for Cumberland Gap, whither the bulk of his im- 
mense trains had been dispatched immediately after the battle. 

During these five days— namely, from the 9th to the 13th of 



PEEEYVILLE, WILDCAT, AND NASHVILLE AGAIN. 375 

October, inclusive — Buell threw away the grand opportunity 
of the campaign. It is true that his army had been roughly 
handled at Perry ville, but scarcely more so than his antago- 
nist's, which was less able to lose three thousand men than the 
Army of the Ohio its four thousand. If Buell did not know 
how largely his forces outnumbered the rebels, it must be said 
that it was eminently his business to do so ; and IF his troops 
could not be relied U230n equally with Bragg's, for staunch 
work in battle, it was more the result of influences emanating 
from his own head-quarters than of all other circumstances 
combined. Spite of his high attainments in the military pro- 
fession, spite of his great talents for organization and his 
proven capacity for moving large bodies of troops, spite of his 
unimpeachable record at Shiloh, General Buell failed to rise to 
the level of this occasion ; and so, while Buell was timidly feel- 
ing the enemy in various directions toward Dick River, Bragg 
perfected his plans and escaped. 

On the 10th of October, the Fourth Division marched six 
miles through Perryville, to within two or three miles of Dan- 
ville, which place was still held by the enemy. A cold rain 
set in at night-fall, and the next day was a genuine foretaste 
of winter. On the 11th, the Nineteenth Brigade made a re- 
connoissance through Danville, driving the rebel rear-guard 
before it. On Sundayj the 12th, the whole division made a 
reconnoissance across the country in a north-easterly direction,, 
went within six miles of Camp Dick E-obinson, and returned 
to its old camping place at dark, after a march of ten or twelve 
miles. Next day it changed camp a few hundred yards ahead, 
and, on the 14th, with the rest of the army, began a vigorous 
pursuit of the retreating enemy, marching fifteen miles to Stan- 
ford. About 11 P. M., it was roused for a night march, but 



376 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

nolo to attempt to overhaul the rebels was a hopeless task. 
Provided with a "Jackass Battery/' Bragg's rear-guard was 
skillfully maneuvered, and, after passiug through Crab Or- 
chard, was operating in a country the most favorable possible 
for covering a retreat. 

October 15th. — The Fourth Division started at 2 A. M., and 
marched seven miles before sunrise, by which time it was al- 
most up with the advance, formed in line of battle near Crab 
Orchard. After holding the Union forces at bay for two or 
three hours, the enemy's rear-guard retired through Crab Or- 
chard, just in season to escape capture in a body, but kept up 
almost constant skirmishing all day as it fell back. The di- 
vision marched twenty-two miles, and that night the Sixth 
Ohio was on picket. 

October 16th. — Marched eleven miles through Mount Ver- 
non to Rockcastle River. The country had now become wild 
and mountainous, and of this the enemy took advantage by 
felling timber across the roads, and contesting from hill to hill 
the passage of the valleys. During the forenoon, a member of 
the Sixth Kentucky was instantly killed on the skirmish line, 
and buried near where he fell. At this date, General Buell 
decided to abandon the pursuit, and move at once to Nashville, 
which was now threatened by a considerable force of the enemy 
at Murfreesboro', and which he rightly judged was the point 
that Bragg would next strike for. McCook's and Gilbert's 
corps Avere halted at Crab Orchard, Wood's division at Mount 
Vernon, and Van Cleve's at Rockcastle River, but Smith ob- 
tained permission to follow the enemy a little further. 

October 17th. — Crossed Rockcastle River early, and marched 
up the mountain side to Camp Wildcat, the Tenth Brigade in 
advance. The Thirty-sixth Indiana, deployed through the 
woods as skirmishers, pushed the rebel pickets vigorously, and 



PEERYVILLE, WILDCAT^ AND NASHVILLE AGAIN. 377 

lost three or four men killed and wounded. The enemy, suf- 
fering at least equally, next took position to defend a deep 
gorge two miles beyond Wildcat, where skirmishing continued 
until near sundown. The Sixth Ohio was sent by a circuitous 
and toilsome route along the mountain ridge to take the enemy 
in flank, and at night the whole brigade returned to Wildcat, 
having marched in all about seven miles that day. The di- 
vision was now far from any supply depot, the country was 
very poor, and for nearly three weeks from this date the troops 
were again on short rations. 

October 18th. — The Nineteenth Brigade made a reconnois- 
sance to London, but found no enemy. Marching out the 
"Winding Blades" road, the Twenty-second Brigade surprised 
a detachment of rebel cavalry at Nelson's Cross-roads, and 
captured several prisoners, and a lot of beeves which they had 
stolen further north. 

On Sunday, the 19th, the Tenth Brigade also moved to Nel- 
son's Cross-roads, eight miles distant, and next day thirteen 
miles further, on the Manchester road, which brought it to 
within forty-five miles of Cumberland Gap. The enemy had 
now put himself beyond the possibility of pursuit, and the 
command returned the same day to Nelson's Cross-roads, 
whence, after arming the loyal mountaineers with captured 
muskets, picking up rebel stragglers, etc.. General Smith, on 
the 22d, countermarched it ten miles to Rockcastle River. 
Colonel Grose was absent sick, for a week or two about this 
time, and, meanwhile. Colonel Fred. Jones commanded the 
brigade. On the 23d, the Twenty-second Brigade completed 
the work of the Fourth Division in this region by destroying 
the Goose Creek Salt-works, near Manchester, with thirty 
thousand bushels of salt. Since leaving Crab Orchard, the 
division bad received the surrender of about six hundred rebel 



378 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

soldiers, and captured four hundred fat cattle from the enemy's 
supply train. On the 24th, the division recrossed Rockcastle 
River, marching nine miles to a camping place just beyond 
Mount Vernon; on the 25th, thirteen miles to Buck Creek, 
and on Sunday, the 26th, thirteen miles, through frozen slush 
and four inches of snow, to camp half a mile west of Somer- 
set. "On this march we really suffered," says a Sixth Ohio 
letter. "We had no tents, nor shelter of any kind, no axes 
for cutting fire-wood; we were stinted in supplies and lightly 
clad; and it is a fact that many of our almost barefooted hun- 
dreds left bloody foot-prints as they trudged along over the 
frozen snow and ice. Valley Forge could never have surpassed 
it." Many were here sent to hospital from the Fourth Di- 
vision, including a small delegation from the Sixth Ohio. 
Such service as the army was now undergoing was particu- 
larly severe upon the new regiments, which fact, as also one 
other great grievance, is pathetically set forth by the historian 
of the Eighty-fourth Illinois, as follows: "Our men were 
scantily clothed, for the weather had been very warm for a 
few days after leaving Louisville, and finding themselves over- 
loaded, they had thrown away all except one suit. Many were 
now nearly barefooted, and some had been so unfortunate as to 
lose their blankets, or have them stolen by the older regiments. 
We were the only new regiment in the brigade, and during the 
whole campaign our verdaisiCY gave them frequent occasion 
for mirth and ridicule; and from our men many were so un- 
principled as to steal nearly every thing not actually fastened 
to their persons."* 

After resting one day at Somerset, the Fourth Division, on 
the 28th of October marched five miles to Fishing Creek; on 

*"The History of the 84th Regt. Ills. Vols.: By L. A. Simmons, Ma- 
comb, Ills., 18G6," 



PERRYVILLE, WILDCAT, AND NASHVILLE AGAIN. 379 

the 29th, crossed that stream and marched eight miles, pass- 
ing near the Mill Spring battle-ground, .where the Sixth Ohio 
noted with melancholy interest the graves of several soldiers 
belonging to the staunch old Ninth Ohio; on the 30th, 
eighteen miles to Wolf Creek, and on the 31st, eighteen miles 
further, to Columbia, where it encamped on the banks of Rus- 
sell Creek. Here it received intelligence of Buell's superse- 
dure by Roseerans, on the previous day, Avhich was most wel- 
come; for limited as was the confidence which General Buell 
seemed to repose in his army, the latter had still less confidence 
in him. Fruitless rather than hard marching, overmuch 
strategy that resulted in nothing, and stern repression at times 
when all its instincts clamored for fight, had disheartened the 
whole army, and developed the symptoms of general demor- 
alization. Some change had become a necessity; although, 
it must be said, these were not the principal considerations 
which governed the action of the War Department. The de- 
signation of the army was now changed to the title which it 
bore with such pride and honor to itself to the close of the 
war — the Army of the Cumberland. Crittenden's corps became 
the "Left Wing," McCook's the "Right Wing," and Thomas' 
the " Center." 

On Sunday, November 2d, the Fourth Division marched 
twenty miles to Edmonton ; on the 3d, twenty-two miles to 
Glasgow, where, on the 6th, the Sixth Ohio received its tents 
and baggage, and pitched the former, for the first time in more 
than two months; on the 8th, twenty-two miles to Scottsville; 
on the 9th, three miles further, for better camp grounds; on 
the 10th, twelve miles, to the Tennessee State line; on the 
11th, seventeen miles, to within five miles of Gallatin, and on 
the 12th through Gallatin, thence across the Cumberland by a 
shaky bridge of trestles and loose boards, which had been 



380 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

hastily improvised by Wood's division, and eight miles beyond, 
to the Lebanon turnpike — in all, sixteen miles. The Sixth 
Ohio was this day rear-guard for the entire division, and had 
four men — three from Company F and one from Company G — 
taken prisoners, and afterward paroled by John Morgan, who 
had been hovering about Lebanon and Gallatin for several 
days. On the 13th, the division moved three miles nearer 
Nashville, to rejoin the rest of Crittenden's corps at Silver 
Springs. Plere Captain Driver's " Old Glory " was hoisted in 
front of Colonel Anderson's head-quarters, and Commissary- 
Sergeant Slanker and one or two other wags perpetrated the 
joke of opening a " recruiting office for the gunboat service," 
and in the course of three hours had examined and "passed" 
a large crowd of recruits, made up from almost every regiment 
in the corps. 

The whole army was now assembled in the vicinity of Nash- 
ville, whither General Rosecrans had removed his head-quar- 
ters from Bowling Green, on the lOth, five days after the futile 
demonstrations upon it by Forrest and Morgan. As yet, the 
railroad had been re-opened no further than Mitchellsville, 
thirty-five miles distant, and for two weeks longer General 
Rosecrans found it difficult to subsist his army. Meanwhile, 
Bragg was rapidly concentrating at Murfreesboro'. Two large 
armies thus lay confronting each other scarcely twenty-five 
miles apart, with their outposts in close proximity, and scarcely 
a day passed for the next six weeks without one or more col- 
lisions somewhere along the front. 

Prior to this, Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson had received his 
commission as colonel, bearing date August 19th. Lieutenant 
Choate, with the commission in his pocket, had been captured 
near Bardstown, and it was now defaced by the indorsement, 
" Approved and- permitted to be forwarded/' signed by John 



PEEKYVILLE, WILDCAT, AKD NASHVILLE AGAIN. 381 

Morgan — which was not a bad joke, all things considered. 
Colonel Anderson's muster took effect November 9th (1862), 
as did that of Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher, promoted from 
major. Captain Erwin had rejoined the regiment in the 
vicinity of Camp Wildcat, with about thirty recruits, but was 
still suffering from the effects of his wound. Captain Bense 
and Lieutenants Gilman and Schieffer joined it soon afterward 
at Glasgow, and witliiu a few weeks of this time nearly the 
whole of Company I was got together again, most of the en- 
listed men captured up Stewart's Run having been paroled at 
Salisbury, North Carolina, May 18th, and declared to be ex- 
changed in orders from the War Department, dated November 
19th. The commissioned officers, however, had refused to take 
a parole, and were not sent north until September. Captain 
Bense twice escaped from prison, but was recaptured and 
treated with great harshness. 

A few more dates must suffice for an outline of the Sixth 
Ohio's history and surroundings, down to the Stone River 
campaign. 

On the 14th of November, Colonel Grose, the brigade com- 
mander, formally announced his staff, although most of the 
officers designated had been serving thereon ever since leaving 
Louisville. Lieutenant Southgate, of the Sixth Ohio, was act- 
ing assistant adjutant-general, and Captain Erwin, brigade 
inspector. The latter was relieved soon afterward by Lieu- 
tenant John P. Duke, of the Twenty-third Kentucky. On 
the 15th, the Sixth Ohio (still at Silver Springs) was on 
picket, and on the 18th was paid off by Major Yohn for the 
four months ending August 31st. At the same date, Ezra 
Kelsey was announced as regimental sutler vice Cobb, who had 
not made his appearance for several months. 



382 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

On the 19th, the division changed camp twelve miles, to 
within 'eight miles of Nashville, passing by the Hermitage, 
and a hamlet dignified by the high-sounding name of '• Slip- 
up." On the 20th, Jake'Fifer and Ben. Phillips returned 
home, having been mustered out of service in accordance with 
orders from the "War Department, abolishing the grade of 
chief musician. Starting at 1 A. M., on the 25th, the regi- 
ment made a rough and fruitless march across the country, to 
surprise a camp of rebel cavalry, crossed Stone River twice, 
and marched not less than twenty miles. 

On the 26th, the division changed camp eight miles, to the 
Murfreesboro' turnpike, three- fourths of a mile from the old 
site of Camp Andrew Jackson, and three miles from Nashville, 
and here it remained until the army moved upon Murfrees- 
boro'. On the 27th, the Sixth Ohio was escort for a forage 
train, making a march of twenty miles. On the 1st of De- 
cember, Captain McAlpin was appointed "Regimental Pro- 
vost," to adjudicate those petty cases which had formerly been 
tried by regimental court-martial, but was soon afterward re- 
placed by Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher, as the act of Con- 
gress under which such appoihtments had been ordered by the 
War Department required that the position should be filled by 
a field officer. On the 3d — a beautiful day — the Fourth Di- 
vision was reviewed by General Rosecrans, on grounds near 
the Lunatic Asylum, seven miles from Nashville. " Riding 
down the lines of our regiment," says a Sixth Ohio letter, 
"the General got off a little raillery about Beverly mud, prom- 
ised us a fight soon, and stopped a mofnent to shake hands 
with Captain Bense and one or two other officers. How dif- 
ferent from General Buell ! " On the 4th, the Tenth Brigade 
marched fifteen miles, as escort for a forage train sent out on 
the Murfreesboro' turnpike. Three days later, Hartsville was 



PEERYVILLE, WILDCAT, AND NASHVILLE AGAIN. 383 

captured, with nearly an entire brigade, by John Morgan. On 
the 9th, the Tenth Brigade was on picket beyond the Lunatic 
Asyhim, and early next morning the Sixth Ohio and another 
regiment made a reconnoissance two miles further, surprised a 
rebel outpost, and captured nine prisoners. Company C, of the 
Sixth Ohio, bore the most prominent part in this exploit. The 
9th of December is also the date of the very handsome repulse 
of Wheeler's cavalry, four miles from Lavergne, by Colonel 
Stanley M. Matthews' . brigade of Van Cleve's division, acting 
as escort for a forage train. On the 11th, General Smith was 
relieved from the command of the Fourth Division ; was soon 
afterward, at his own request, transferred to General Grant's 
department ; became chief of cavalry for the Military Division 
of the Mississippi; resigned on account of ill health in the 
summer of 1864; and is now living in contented retirement 
on his country place, some miles from Chicago. General Pal- 
mer, his successor in command of the Fourth Division, took 
hold vigorously, and with decided benefit to the discipline and 
morale of the division. 

John McAuley Palmer was born of Virginia ancestry, in 
Scott County, Kentucky, September 13, 1817. In 1831, the 
family removed to Madison County, Illinois, in consequence of 
the antislavery sentiments of his father, who was an intelligent 
farmer. Young Palmer graduated at a manual labor college 
at Alton, Illinois, in 1835; afterward worked with a cooper, 
then traveled as a peddler, next taught a country school, and 
finally, after about one year's study of the law, in December, 
1839, was admitted to the bar. He settled in Carlinvillc, Ma- 
coupin County, (where he continued to reside until the breaking 
out of the war,) and struggled his way to the front rank of his 
profession. He was an active participant in politics, being 



384 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

orio'inally a warm Democrat and an enthusiastic admirer of 
Senator Douglas. In 1849, he was elected county judge, hav- 
ing previously served two terms as probate justice of Macoupin 
County, and been a member of the Convention for framing a 
new State Constitution. In 1851, he was elected, and in 1855 
reelected, to the State Senate. He took strong grounds against 
the measures of the Nebraska Bill, notwithstanding they origi- 
nated with Mr. Douglas ; in 1856, was president of the first Re- 
publican State Convention in Illinois ; was nominated for Con- 
gress in 1859, but defeated, his district bordering upon " Egypt ;" 
in 1860, was Presidential elector for the State at large, and cast 
his vote for Lincoln; and in February, 1861, was delegate to 
the Peace Congress at Washington. 

In May, 1861, he became colonel of the Fourteenth Illinois 
Infantry, which, in July, he led to Missouri. On the 23d of 
October following, he was assigned to the command of a brigade, 
and on the 20th of December commissioned brigadier-general. 
In command of a division, he took a prominent and important 
part in the operations Avhich led to the capture of New Madrid 
and Island Number Ten, and although' during the advance on 
Corinth he commanded a brigade merely, in General Pope's 
reorganized army, he ably improved the opportunity afforded 
him at Farmington, for the display of great skill and gallantry, 
in maneuvering his troops under very critical circumstances. 
After three months' absence from the front, occasioned by a 
severe attack of pneumonia. General Palmer was, early in Sep- 
tember (1862), placed in command of one of the two small 
divisions which had been detached from the Army of the Mis- 
sissippi to reenforce General Buell, then just beginning his 
northward march abreast of Braffs;. His division reached 
Nashville on the 11th of September, and there remained in 
garrison until the return of the army from Louisville. At the 



PERRYVILLE, WILDCAT, AND NASHVILLE AGAIN. 385 

head of the Fourth Division, he soon won the respect and con- 
fidence of his men, and proved himself a worthy peer of the 
fighting generals of the Army of the Cumberland. General 
Palmer is a man of large capacity, systematic energy, great 
firmness, and fine executive abilities. 

At dress parade on Sunday, December 4th, the Sixth Ohio 
was presented with a handsome stand of colors, consisting of a 
regimental banner, the gift of the City Council, and a national 
flag from the ladies of Cincinnati. The Honorable Jimmy 
Fitzgerald spoke for the Council, and Colonel Jones, of the 
Twenty-fourth Ohio, for the ladies. Colonel Anderson re- 
sponded as follows : 

Gentlemen : In behalf of the Sixth Regiment, I receive from 
your hands these flags, beautiful, indeed, in their brilliant colors 
and silken folds, but more beautiful and dearer far to us in the 
thoughts and associations which cluster around them. They are 
not given, as we know full well, merely to flutter in the dress par- 
ade or gaudy review, but as incentives to action, and in this spirit 
we receive them. They will remind us of the loved ones at home, 
and of the tender confidence with which they give them to our 
care. Above all, they will remind us of our duty, whether it be 
amid the crashing of cannon and the groans of the wounded and 
dying, or to bear cheerfully the long and weary marches, the camp 
disease, and all the fatigues and sorrows which go to make up a 
soldier's life. Be assured, gentlemen, wherever destiny may lead 
us — either to the more glorious dangers of the battle-field, or the 
more trying and less-to-be-desired dangers of incessant and inglo- 
rious march — this flag from the Council of our native city, and this 
from the weeping mothers, the wives and sisters we have left behind, 
will ever inspire us to behave as soldiers in camp and men in battle. 

Soldiers ! take your flags. They are now a part of yourselves. 
25 



386 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

They represent your country, your city, your loved ones, and your 
own honor. To disgrace yourselves would be to disgrace them 
and those who gave them. 

On the 16th, the Tenth Brigade went out on a foraging ex- 
pedition to the Hermitage, returning at half-past ten o'clock 
at nio-ht, after a march of twenty miles. Some juvenile con- 
trabands, who had run away from their masters to escape a 
beating, joined the column on its return and were taken into 
service by different squads of the Sixth Ohio. On the 20th, 
the Fourth Division made a reconnoissance toward Lebanon, 
marching in all twenty-two miles. On the 2 2d, the Sixth 
Ohio and five other regiments again went foraging — this time, 
through Nashville and out the Hillsboro' turnpike — and 
marched twenty-four miles. On Christmas-eve a number of 
boxes, etc., with good things from home, reached the Sixth 
Ohio, and camp was merry. Christmas-day was dull enough, 
however. Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher started home in the 
morning on a leave of absence, and Lieutenant Thatcher had a 
lot of eggnog made up for Company K. 

On the 28th of November a large number of commissions 
reached the Sixth Ohio, most of them dating back to August 
or September, and some of them even to July ; and the follow- 
ing promotions, etc., were thereupon announced : Major A. O. 
Russell, promoted from captain of Company G. Captain Getty 
and First Lieutenant Montagnier, promoted from the grades next 
lower, in the same company. The latter had now rejoined the 
regiment from staff duty with General Hascall, and was tem- 
porarily placed in command of Company F. Captain Charles 
B. Russell, promoted from first lieutenant Company B, and 
assigned to Company D, which thus secured the most popular 



PEERYVILLE, WILDCAT, AND NASHVILLE AGAIN. 387 

officer in the regiment. Captain E,. H. Soutligate (still de- 
taclied), promoted from first lieutenant Company I, and as- 
signed to Company C. First Lieutenants B. F. West and W. 
E. Sheridan (detached), promoted from second lieutenants in 
Companies I and H. First Lieutenant James K. Reynolds, 
promoted from private in Company A, was private secretary 
to General Rosecrans, with the appointment of aid-de-camp, 
and never performed duty with the regiment. The following 
non-commissioned officers were promoted to second lieutenan- 
cies, and assigned as indicated : Sergeant-Major James F. Ir- 
win, to Company G ; First Sergeant John R. Kestner, Company 
C, remained in same company; First Sergeant Jonathan Burt 
Holmes, Company A, assigned to Company B ; First Sergeant 
Charles H. Foster, Company B, assigned to Company A ; First 
Sergeant Joseph L. Antram, Company E, assigned to Company 
D ; and First Sergeant James F. Meline, Company K, assigned 
to Company H, but remained on duty for some weeks with 
his old company. Second Lieutenant Walter Lawrence, pro- 
moted from corporal in Company G, was assigned to Company 
I, but resigned in February, 1863, and came home. 

Shortly before this. Second Lieutenant Williams had been 
promoted to first lieutenant and appointed adjutant, to date 
from August 1st. On the 23d of November, First Lieutenant 
ISIorris (who had already been absent from the regiment for 
two and a half months) was detailed for duty in convalescent 
barracks at Gallatin. On the 2d of December, Dr. Ames 
went to hospital at Nashville, sick, and Dr. Stephens being de- 
tached, the regiment was delivered over to the tender mercies- 
of a worthless charlatan, detailed from some other quarter, who, 
for his own sake, in this volume shall be nameless. Captain 
Erwin, who, on the 19th of November, had been ordered to 
Ohio, "to bring forward drafled men," returned to the front 



388 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

early in December. Quartermaster Shoemaker, on the 7th 
of December, was appointed Master of Transportation for the 
division, and for the next four months the duties of regimental 
quartermaster were discharged by Lieutenant Irwin. At the 
same date. First Lieutenant West, of Company I, was perma- 
nently detached for duty in the Pioneer Corjjs of the Army of 
the Cumberland (consisting of twenty men from each regiment), 
where he performed energetic and valuable service; and First 
Lieutenant Donovan, Second Lieutenant Schieffer, and First 
Sergeant Jesse C. La Bille, of Company F, were recommended 
by Colonel Anderson for promotion, as being "deserving and 
exceedingly efficient officers." Sergeant James F. Graham, of 
Company E, was made sergeant-major vice Irwin. When the 
regiment marched from Nashville to what proved to be the 
battle-field of Stone River, Lieutenant Choate was still absent, 
not yet being exchanged, and Captains Westcott and Brutton 
were incapacitated for commanding their companies. Com- 
pany I, which for two weeks had been doing duty as provost 
guard for the brigade, now rejoined the regiment. 

Thus, the officers on duty with the Sixth Ohio, at that date, 
were as follows: Colonel Anderson, Major Russell, and Adju- 
tant Williams; Captains McAlpin, Russell, Erwin, Getty, 
Tinker, and Bense; First Lieutenants Donovan, Thatcher, 
Montagnier, and Gilman, the last three of whom were in com- 
mand of Companies K, F, and C, respectively ; and Second 
Lieutenants Foster (commanding his company). Holmes, 
Kestner, Antram, Schieffer, Irwin (detailed), Meline, and 
Lawrence. 

Anthony Octavius Russell, the newly-appointed major, was 
born at Southington, Connecticut, on the 4th of December, 
1826. The family removed to Ohio in 1830, and in 1841, he 



PERRYVILLE, WILDCAT, AND NASHVILLE AGAIN. 389 

came to Cincinnati, and entered the Enquirer office as an ap- 
prentice to the printing business. When the war broke out, 
he was managing a krge job printing office in Memphis, 
whence returning to Cincinnati, he immediately rejoined old 
associations in the Guthrie Grey organization, and became cap- 
tain of Company G, Sixth Ohio. He was an efficient officer, 
eminently practical, and as strict a disciplinarian as could be 
found in the britjade. 



390 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

STONE RIVER. 

(DECEMBER 26, 1862— JANUARY 4, 1803.) 

UNDER the impressioii that the Uiiion army had gone 
into winter-quarters, Bragg, a few days before Christ- 
mas, detached two considerable bodies of cavalry, sending 
one into West Tennessee to badger General Grant, and the 
other northward to repeat the old game of tearing up the 
Louisville and Nashville Railroad. Rosecrans, however, was 
not nearly so meekly-minded as his antagonist gave him credit 
for; he had come to Nashville for the express purpose of 
fgJif, and had been hard at work preparing for nothing else 
ever since. Five weeks' rations had now been accumulated at 
Nashville, and the rising Cumberland afforded promise of the 
means whereby this supply could be rapidly and safely aug- 
mented. The army was in excellent condition — thoroughly 
rested, well in hand, and wonderfully toned up in spirit and 
enthusiasm since the close of its weary campaign in Kentucky. 
The enemy's immense preponderance in cavalry had been ma- 
terially reduced by the dispositions above noted, and the time 
seemed opportune for reclaiming Middle Tennessee and break- 
ing the power of Bragg's boastful legions. On the 24th of 
December, marching orders were accordingly issued, but were 
countermanded in a few hours, so that the army did not move 



STONE EIVEE. 391 

either on that day or the warm and listless Christmas which 
succeeded. 

The Left Wing, under Crittenden, at this date consisted of 
the three divisions of Wood, Palmer, and Van Cleve, now re- 
numbered as the First, Second, and Third, of that wing. 
Palmer's division, acccrrding to the new nomenclature, com- 
prised the following troops : 

First Brigade (formerly Twenty-second), Brigadier-General 
Charles Cruft, commanding — First and Second Kentucky, 
Thirty-first Indiana, and Ninetieth Ohio, and Battery B, 
First Ohio Artillery, under Captain Standart. 

Second Brigade (formerly Nineteenth), Colonel Hazen com- 
manding — Forty-first Ohio, Ninth Indiana, Sixth Kentucky, 
and One Plundred and Tenth Illinois; and Battery F, First 
Ohio Artillery, under Captain Cockerill. 

Third Brigade (formerly Tenth), Colonel Grose command- 
ing — Thirty-sixth Indiana, Sixth and Twenty-fourth Ohio, 
Twenty-third Kentucky, and Eighty-fourth Illinois; and Bat- 
teries H and M, Fourth United States Artillery, officered 
by Lieutenants Parsons, Cushing, and Huntington, and con- 
solidated for the time being under command of the first- 
named. 

Early on the 26th of December, the entire army was put in 
motion, the Left Wing proceeding directly out the Murfrees- 
boro' turnpike,'**" and the Center and Pight Wing (under 
Thomas and McCook) on the Franklin and Nolensville roads. 
Crittenden that day advanced to Lavergne, skirmishing heavily 
on his front, over a rough country, abounding in forests and 

* Graphic descriptions of the march from Nashville and scenes upon 
the battle-field of Stone River, will be found in Part IT, in the chapters 
entitled "In the Ranks at Stone River," and "In Hospital," etc. 



392 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

cedar-brakes, and the Second Division marched twelve miles, 
under cover of a strong force of skirmishers and flankers, to 
which the Sixth Ohio and other regiments of the Third Bri- 
gade contributed their due proportion. Rain fell nearly all 
day and again at night, and the next morning was very foggy. 
During the forenoon of the 27th Hascall's brigade of Wood's 
division, with the help of artillery, drove the rebels from La- 
vergne, and that night the Left Wing bivouacked at Stewart's 
Creek, after continuous skirmishing for five miles, most of the 
time in a cold, dreary rain. Grose's brigade took position on 
the extreme right of the advanced line, where the Sixth Ohio 
was thrown forward on picket. The next day (Sunday, the 
28th) was bright and pleasant, and passed in quiet, except on 
the picket-line, where some rather exciting but by no means 
dangerous skirmishing was kept up until evening, when the 
rebels retired across Stewart's Creek. Before dark they grew 
sufficiently friendly to exchange newspapers with the Union 
pickets on the other side of the stream. 

Rosecrans had half expected to find the enemy in force at 
Stewart's Creek, prepared to offer battle; but when the Left 
Wing advanced on INIonday morning, it encountered little oppo- 
sition, and steadily pushed back the enemy's skirmishers seven 
and a half miles further, or to within two and a half miles of 
Murfreesboro'. Grose's brigade, which this day had the advance 
upon the right of the turnpike, was formed in two lines, of 
which the Sixth and Twenty-fourth Ohio constituted the second ; 
marched laboriously in line of battle across the country, abreast 
of a brigade from Wood's division on the opposite side of the 
road; forded Overall's Creek, and late in the day halted two 
hundred yards before reaching a brick house, then in flames, 
situated in the midst of a large cleared space near the point 
where the railroad crosses the turnpike. This was the famous 



STONE RIVER. 393 

"Cowan's Burnt House/' as it is called in the accounts of 
Stone River. From beyond it a strong line of rebel skir- 
mishers had already fired two or three defiant volleys, wound- 
ing Corporal Joseph Reel, of Company A, Sixth Ohio, and 
two men in the Eighty-fourth Illinois; while, as it afterward 
proved, the enemy's main line was intrenched but a short 
distance behind the railroad directly in front. Misled by a 
signal message from Palmer, somewhat earlier in the day, to 
the eifect that the enemy was probably evacuating, Rosecrans 
ordered Wood to ford Stone River and occupy Murfreesboro'. 
The Second Division remained standing in line for two hours 
or more, in readiness to cooperate; then, as the order had been 
countermanded, the troops lay down and slept as best they 
could under a pattering rain. 

On the 30th, McCook's three divisions slowly fought their 
w^ay into position on the right of General Negley, who joined 
Palmer in the cedars, on the right, as Wood did at the turn- 
pike on the left. Rousseau also came up from beyond Stew- 
art's Creek, and bivouacked on the turnpike near General Rose- 
crans' head-quarters, in reserve. Palmer's front was this day 
covered by the First and Third Brigades, the latter extending 
across an old cotton-field, from the turnpike to the cedars, and 
formed in two lines, as usual, with the Sixth and Twenty- 
fourtli Ohio in advance. Brisk skirmishing was kept up at the 
front, two or three Sixth Ohio companies taking their turn with 
the rest, and bullets w'cre continually dropping among the 
troops as they sat or squatted in line. A few casualties oc- 
curred, principally in the Sixth Ohio. Heavy fighting was 
heard upon the right during the afternoon, and the day closed 
with an artillery duel, in which Parsons led off in silencing 
the rebels. Three hours after dark Grose's brigade was re- 



394 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

licvcd by Hazen's, and retired to a comfortable bivouac in the 
cedars. 

About seven o'clock on the morning of the 31st, the sound 
of artillery broke out heavily in the direction of the Right, 
quickly followed by an under-tone, which the troops recognized 
at once as rapid, though distant musketry. Rosecrans' plan of 
battle had been to throw the Left Wing across Stone River in 
overwhelming force, crush Breckinridge, who was covering 
Murfreesboro', and then, moving to the right, to sweep the 
whole rebel line, division after division, clear around to the 
front of McCook. In this programme every thing depended 
upon McCook's holding his ground until Crittenden and 
Thomas had been allowed time to execute their allotted tasks. 
Vaq Cleve's division was already across Stone River, Wood 
■was about to follow, and Palmer was ready to move in coopera- 
tion, when the rapidly-nearing roar of battle upon the other 
flank, and the drifting of immense masses of flying troops to- 
ward the left and rear, conveyed to Rosecrans, with appalling 
certainty, the tidings of overwhelming disaster to the Right, 
and the fearful jeopardy of his whole army in consequen(|e. 
How grandly he rose above all the emergencies of that awful 
day, saving the battle by personal effort and magnificent ex- 
ample after it had been lost, and wresting victory at last from 
the grasp of resentful Fortune, is a brilliant page in history to 
which we can only refer in passing, and must now confine our 
attention to the part borne by the Sixth Ohio, and its imme- 
diate associates, in the fateful strife of Stone River. 

After standing some time in line and countermarcihing in 
the cedars, the Third Brigade, at about eight o'clock, moved 
out into the cotton-field, just as the rear of Rousseau's division 
"was filing by and up into the cedars. The Third Ohio was in 
that column, as were also the batteries of Loomis and Guenther ; 



STONE RIVER. 395 

and in the latter (formerly Terrill's) the Sixth Ohio saw Lieu- 
tenant Ludlow again, with other friends of Shiloh fame. The 
firing was drawing near now, and such signs of disaster ap- 
peared as could not be mistaken. Scarcely had the batteries 
disappeared in the timber, when Colonel Grose, by Palmer's 
order, executed a rapid change of front to the rear, to protect 
the right of the division, which was about to be taken in fiunk 
and rear, at the same time that a furious assault was delivered 
upon its front. In the new formation, the Sixth Ohio was 
nearest the enemy, having the left of the front line, the Thirty- 
sixth Indiana, upon its right, with the proper interval between, 
and the other regiments of the brigade drawn up in the second 
line. Immediately upon executing the change of front, Colonel 
Anderson gave the command, " Forward ! " and the regiment 
advanced rapidly about two hundred yards into the cedars, 
meeting great numbers of stragglers, fugitives, and wounded 
men, falling back in disorder from the battle, which was now 
raging close at hand. The lines were hurriedly dressed, and 
then — the regiment was in action ! Scarcely two hundred 
yards distant was the head of a rebel column, massed for attack 
with regimental front, and sweeping down through the cedars. 
Troops never went into action in better spirits than did the 
Sixth Ohio here. The regiment fought desperately, giving 
volley for volley and cheer for cheer, until, within twenty min- 
utes, nearly one- third of its number lay dead or wounded at its 
feet ; then the Colonel gave the command, " Fix bayonets ! " 
with the desperate resolve of clearing the front with cold steel. 
The next moment he discovered that the regiment was flanked 
upon both sides, no available supports were at hand, and noth- 
ing now remained but to get out of the wood at once. 

Less chary of praise than Grose or Palmer, General Rousseau 
was afterward at especial pains to compliment the staunch 



396 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

ficrhtino- of the Sixth Ohio:* and well those troops deserved 
it, who, with the help of the Thirty-sixth Indiana, held the 
enemy in check long enough to alFord time for the batteries in 
the rear to take position, whence they broke the rebel line as 
it came careering across the cotton-field in pursuit of the re- 
treating infantry, and sent it a routed, flying mass of.gray far 
back into the forest. "When the Sixth Ohio reformed, as it 
promptly did, behind Parsons' guns, near the turnpike, it Avas 
with fearfully-thinned ranks, and hearts that bled for the com- 
rades who were stretched helpless under the cedars. Adjutant 
Williams was killed. Lieutenant Foster dying. Captain Mc- 
Alpin hurt unto death, and Lieutenant Schieffer severely 
wounded. Both color sergeants and three of their guard had 
been stri^ck down in quick succession, and the colors had been 
brought off most gallantly by young Corporal Thorp, of •Com- 
pany B, who claimed the precious charge as his own, and scarce 
would suffer the Colonel to take it from his hands, to organize 
the nucleus of another formation. Colonel Anderson, though 
painfully wounded in the thigh, refused to leave the field, and 
remained at the head of the regiment through the whole fight. 
A score of gory corpses — brave men but half an hour before — 
marked the line where the Sixth had fought, and five score 
more were suffering there, or wending their painful way toward 
the rear in search of the surgeon. 

The Twenty-third Kentucky, Twenty-fourth Ohio, and 
Eighty-fourth Illinois were re-posted while the terrific fight- 
ing of the Sixth Ohio and Thirty-sixth Indiana was in prog- 
ress in the cedars, and poured a withering fire into the enemy's 
charging column as it emerged into the cotton-field. As yet 

*"The Sixth Ohio Infantry, Colonel Nick Anderson, joined my com- 
mand on the right of the Regular Brigade, and stood manfully up to the 
work." — General Rousseau s Official Report. 



STONE RIVER. 397 

they were unshaken. But the rebels again advanced in about 
half an hour, when the brunt of the fighting fell upon them. 
The combat was obstinate and bloody, but, with the help of 
artillery as before, the rebels were once more and finally driven 
back into the timber, with heavy losses on both sides. The 
Third Brigade then changed front, and moved to the left a 
short distance to support Colonel Hazen, whose devoted com- 
mand had already held the " Round Forest," the key -point of 
the field, against treble its numbers, through a most furious 
assault. The Twenty-fourth Ohio, and so much of the Thirty- 
sixth Indiana as had yet been re-assembled, were thrown for- 
ward upon the right of the turnpike, and had another terrible 
conflict with the enemy. Here the former regiment suffered 
its heaviest losses, and that true man and splendid soldier, 
Coldnel Fred. Jones, was mortally wounded. Major Terry fall- 
ing immediately afterward. The Sixth Ohio was formed diag- 
onally across the turnpike, under orders to hold the position, 
which Avere obeyed, although the regiment was under almost 
constant fire, and many more brave men were there killed or 
wounded. During several hours of this day it acted in coop- 
eration with Hascall's brigade, which was nobly sustaining 
Hazen's in holding the Round Forest, and won high praise 
from its old commander of Camp "Wickliffe times.* 

* " Colonel Hazen, commanding a brigade in General Palmer's division, 
was present with his brigade to the left of the railroad, and Colonel Grose, 
commanding another brigade in the same division, was also present with 
what there was left of his brigade, and most nobly did he cooperate with 
me, with the Sixth and Twenty-fourth Ohio, to the right of the railroad. 

I then threw forward the right of the Sixth Ohio Regiment 

(of Colonel Grose's brigade), which was on the right of the Twenty-sixth 
Ohio, so that its line of battle was more nearly perpendicular to the rail- 
road, and so its fire would sweep the front of the Twenty-sixth Ohio and 



398 . THE STORY OF A REGIMEXT. ' 

Nio-ht fell at last, and the left, alone of all the line, retained 
its original position of the morning. Four distinct and des- 
perate charges had the enemy made upon the Round Forest, 
and two of these the Sixth Ohio (after its first fearful losses in 
the cedars) had assisted in repelling. About midnight the 
regiment was relieved by the Twenty-fourth Ohio, and then 

Fiftv-ei"-hth Indiana, and supported the Sixth Ohio with Estep's battery, 
on a little eminence to its right, and brought up the Ninety-seventh Ohio, 
Colonel Lane, from Wagner's brigade, to still further strengthen the right 
These dispositions being made, I galloped a little to the rear and found 
General Rosecrans, and called his attention to the importance of the posi- 
tion I was holding, and the necessity of keeping it well supported. He 
rode to the front with me, approved of the dispositions I had made, spoke 
a few words of encouragement to the men, cautioning them to hold their 
fire until the enemy had got well up, and had no sooner retired than the 
enemy emerged from the woods and over the hill, and were moving upon 
us again in splendid style and in great force. As soon as they came in 
sight, the Sixth and Twenty-sixth Ohio and Estep's battery opened on 
them and did splendid execution; but on they came till within one hun- 
dred yards of our line, when Colonel Buell, of the Fifty-eighth Indiana [a 
very large regiment], who had lost three men, but had not fired a gun, 
ordered his men to fire. The efiect is indescribable. The enemy fell in 
winrows, and went staggering back from the efiFects of this unexpected 
volley. Soon, however, they came up again and assaulted us furiously for 
about one and a half hours ; but the men all stood their ground nobly, 
and, at the end of that time, compelled the enemy to retire as before. 
The regiments all behaved splendidly again, and the Fifty-eighth Indiana 

won immortal honors The Sixth and Twenty-fourth Ohio 

did noble service, as did the Ninety -seventh also; but their own imme- 
diate commanders will, no doubt, allude to them more particularly. Thus 

ended the third [fourth] assault upon the position The 

Twenty-sixth Ohio was afterward relieved by the Twenty-third Kentucky. 
The enemy, having been three several times repulsed in their attack on 
that position, seemed satisfied to keep at a respectful distance, and the sun 
Bet upon us masters of the situation." — Gkneral HascaWs Official Report. 



STONE EIVEE. 399 

moved a short distance to the rear. Those cold and dreary 
bivouacs on the nights amid the battle — what survivor of Stone 
River will ever forget them ? In the mud, the rain, the dark- 
ness, without fires, and thousands without food, full of anxiety 
for the unknown fate of friends and comrades, ceaselessly on the 
watch, and weighed down by terrible suspense for the undecided 
issue ! And the thousands of wounded ! numb and freezing 
in their saturated garments, without shelter or food, alone with 
their helpless agony and God, or surrounded only by taunting 

enemies, if not abused and robbed by them God 

be praised for the return of peace to our troubled land ! 

The morning of Thursday, January 1st, 1863, dawned 
gloomily, but in comparative quiet, which was not -seriously 
disturbed all day ; for Bragg was waiting to see his beaten an- 
tagonist (as he fondly believed him) retreat in haste for Nash- 
ville, and Rosecrans for supplies and ammunition wherewith to 
renew the battle. During the night the Union lines had been 
perfected, Crittenden's three divisions concentrated on the left 
of the turnpike, and Hazen's brigade, with its supports, with- 
drawn about three hundred yards for better position. This 
last movement completely turned the head of poor Bragg, who 
forthwith telegraphed to Richmond, " The enemy has yielded 
his strong point, and is falling back. We occupy the W'hole 
field, and shall follow. God has granted us a happy new-year! " 
Less of boasting and more of truth would have made his sanc- 
timony less ridiculous. The greater part of Grose's brigade 
this day passed several hours upon the further bank of Stone 
River, whither it was sent to support Van Cleve's division 
(now commanded by Colonel Beatty, of the Nineteenth Ohio), 
but returned before night, leaving every thing perfectly quiet iu 
that quarter. Lieutenant Donovan and First Sergeant Throop, 
who had been left in Nashville sick, joined the Sixth Ohio 



400 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

early in the forenoon, and took command of their respective 
companies, E and A. They had marched from Nashville 
almost alone, and in great danger of being cut off by the rebel 
cavalry that were swarming in the army's rear. 

On Friday, the 2d, the brigade was again thrown across 
Stone River, and in the afternoon had the pleasure of covering 
the retreat of Van Cleve's division, as it fell back in disorder 
before a fierce charge of Breckinridge's heavy division, and of 
taking a conspicuous part in breaking the lines of the latter, 
tearing them into fragments, and pursuing them almost a mile 
toward Murfreesboro'. In this charge the rebels lost about 
two thousand men, the concentrated fire of fifty-eight guns 
raining death upon them at every step for fully fifteen minutes. 
The Sixth Ohio and Eighty-fourth Illinois, posted behind 
slight barricades, formed the second line of Grose's brigade, 
and theirs was the fire which first checked and staggered the 
rebel column, much of whose momentum had already been 
spent in sweeping away the troops in front. The loss of the 
Sixth Ohio in this glorious afternoon's work was two killed 
and five wounded — few in numbers, but a precious sacrifice 
notwithstanding. David H. INIedary, of Company B — the 
" little corporal " of the regiment, and model soldier — was one 
of the killed ; while among the wounded were Captain Tinker, 
of Company H, and private Pedro Montaldo, of Company K, 
a liberal in his native Spain, a gentleman of fine education, and 
one of the truest patriots that ever championed Freedom's 
cause in battle. 

Saturday, the 3d, was more rainy than ever. Bragg took 
his Friday's punishment very sorely, and, when Sunday morn- 
ing dawned, it was discovered that he had withdrawn during 
the night, and was now in full retreat upon Shelbyville and 
Tullahoma. Grose's regiments recrossed Stone River, and, 



STONE RIVER. 401 

like tte rest of the army, began the sad work of searching for 
their own dead, to honor them with special burial, and then 
of hunting out their widely-scattered wounded. Within a day 
or two the whole army moved into and beyond Murfrecsboro', 
and there sat down to rest, to count its losses over, and prepare 
for whatsoever else of soldier's duty the future might have in 
store for it. 

It is a matter of sincere regret to the writer that his data are 
so meager in regard to the gallant actions of individual mem- 
bers of the Sixth Ohio, and especially of those who fell in the 
battle's front, or were maimed and sorely wounded there ; but, 
■while shrinking from the task of attempting special eulogy in 
a tithe of the cases where it is merited, he gladly presents the 
following outlines of the careers of those heroic officers whose 
lives formed a part of the regiment's costly sacrifice at Stone 
River. 

Captain Henry McAlpin was born of Scotch ancestry, on 
the 12th of October, 1831, in Cincinnati, where he passed his 
early school-days, and at the age of thirteen was sent to the 
boarding-school of Milo G. Williams (a name very familiar to 
old Cincinnatians), at Dayton, Ohio. In 1850 or '51, he en- 
tered the store of Tyler Davidson & Co., and, having there 
made himself familiar with the hardware trade, afterward went 
into business at Dayton, in a retail store of his own. He re- 
mained there about two years, when, finding the retail business 
in the country unsuited to his tastes, he sold his store, returned 
to Cincinnati, and secured a partnership in the firm of McAl- 
pin, Hinman & Co., which he retained at the time of his death. 
Having long been an active and influential member of the 
Guthrie Grey organization, and an ardent patriot all his life,, 
when the President's first call for troops was issued he volun- 
26 



402 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

leered at once in the Sixth Ohio, and, by successive promotions 
(as ah-eady noted in their chronological order), rose to the cap- 
taincy of Company B. When the army moved to attack Bragg 
at Murfrecsboro', he was ill— fitter by far for the hospital than 
the exposure and hardships of an active campaign at midwin- 
ter—but refused to remain at Nashville, though repeatedly 
urged to do so. He marched at tlie head of his company, led 
it into action most gallantly, and, in the desperate struggle in 
the cedars, received a terrible wound from a fragment of shell. 
As soon as possible, he was removed to Nashville, where he 
died on the 10th of January (1863). Friends brought the 
body home, and, with military honors, it was laid to rest in 
Spring Grove Cemetery. Captain McAlpin was an efficient 
and most conscientious officer, thoroughly systematic, a punc- 
tilious disciplinarian, and scrupulously just in the exercise of 
official authority. As a man, he was incapable of subterfuge 
or meanness of any kind. He was a most genial companion 
and devoted friend, quiet and unassuming in manner, yet bold 
and determined in championing what he felt to be right and 
true. He was greatly beloved in life, and in death most 
tenderly mourned. 

Albert Gallatin Williams was born in Cincinnati, August 
7th, 1839, and, when the war broke out, was engaged in the 
insurance business, in the office of Mr. Owen Owens, on Third 
Street. He enlisted in Company F, Sixth Ohio (three-months' 
term), as a private, was soon appointed sergeant, and, step by 
step, rose to the adjutancy of the regiment. Early in the Stone 
River battle, he was pierced by a musket-ball and killed almost 
instantly. His body was not recovered until after the rebels 
abandoned the field, when it was tenderly cared for by Lieu- 
tenant Thatcher and other officers, and sent home. The marble 
head-stone which marks his grave at Spring Grove is almost in 



STONE EIVEB. ^ 403 

sight of the wiudow at which these lines are sadly written. 
Colonel Anderson's tribute to his memory was no less true than 
beautiful : " Few men combined so harmoniously the energies 
of the soldier with the virtues of the man. In him they never 
seemed to be in conflict. Amiability and generosity found full 
play in his disposition, and his mind was as pure and gentle as 
a child's. How tenderly he loved ! how desperately he fought! 
Always cheerful, busy, and cordial while in camp, upon the 
battle-field he was the impersonation of energy and valor. 
But he is gone. He died proudly, as soldiers love to die, but 
leaving sadness behind him. His regiment mourn the brave 
soldier; his family the gentle and loving son and brother." 

Charles Henry Foster was the son of Charles Foster, Esq. 
(now residing at Wilmington, Del.), the inventor of the "Fos- 
ter Press," and many other useful articles of machinery for 
printing purposes. He was born in Cincinnati, on the 17th of 
November, 1837, graduated at Herron's Seminary, and, when 
the war began, had been for some time in the employ of W. T. 
& S. D. Day & Co., manufacturers of printing presses, etc., as 
book-keeper. Going to the post-office on the 17th of April 
(1861), the day after the Guthrie Greys began recruiting their 
regiment, he met some friends who had just enlisted, and, fired 
anew by their example, resolved to follow out the patriotic im- 
pulses which he had hitherto kept in abeyance from a sense of 
duty to his employers. Lest the latter might possibly dissuade 
him still, he explained his absence by a note, and did not trust 
himself in their presence again until after he had been out to 
Camp Harrison and mustered in the Sixth Ohio. Promptly 
reenlisting, he became sergeant, and then first sergeant in Com- 
pany B, and, upon receiving the promotion to a second lieuten- 
ancy that his ability and faithful services had merited so well, 
he was transferred to Company A, which he was commanding 



404 THE STORY OF A EEGIJIENT. 

when killed. While animating his men by an example of 
dauntless courage, he was struck down by a musket-ball, and 
bled to death in a short time. Like the brave Wolfe, his last 
words were a murmured expression of contentment and resig- 
nation to his fate on being told the enemy had been repulsed 
and were flying from the field. Exemplary in his private life, 
with a generous and open nature. Lieutenant Foster won the 
esteem of all who knew him, and left his friends the proud in- 
heritance of a fame untarnished by a single stain. He, too, lies 
buried at Spring Grove. 



COLONEL ANDERSON'S OFFICIAL REPORT. 

Saint Cloud Hotel, Nashville, ) 
January 7, 1863. J 

Colonel W. Grose, Commanding Tenth Brigade — 

Colonel : In accordance with orders from head-quarters, I have 
the honor to make the following report of the part taken by the 
Sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteers in the late series of battles be- 
ginning on the morning of December 31st. 

At about 8 o'clock A. M. on that day we were drawn up in line 
of battle, in the open field to the north [west] of the burnt brick 
house [Cowan's], and to the west [north] of the cedars, while 
Rousseau's division filed by us to get position. Scarcely had the 
rear of that column passed when heavy firing was heard to our 
right, coming from the cedars and approaching rapidly. I was 
ordered with my regiment into the wood. I immediately changed 
front and advanced some two hundred yards, when I saw our troops 
flying in wild disorder, and hotly pursued by the enemy. I formed 
my line, and waited the escape of our men and the nearer advance 
of the enemy. In a few moments a terrific fire was opened on us, 
scarcely a hundred- yards distant, from a rebel line apparently four 
deep. This fire we returned, and a terrible carnage ensued on 



STONE RIVER. 405 

both sides. Finding myself badly pressed, I bad determined on a 
charge, and the order was already given to fix bayonets, when I 
saw that my regiment was flanked almost completely on both sides, 
by two rebel regiments. I gave the order to fall back firing. As 
soon as we reached the edge of the woods, Lieutenant Parsons, of 
the Fourth Regular Artillery, opened on the enemy with terrible 
effect, and I reformed my line behind his guns, having held my 
position against tremendous odds, but with great sacrifice, for 
thirty minutes. I then replenished my ammunition, and was soon 
afterward ordered to throw my regiment diagonally across the 
Murfreesboro' pike, and hold that position. This we did, under a 
destructive fire and with much additional loss, during the rest of 
the day and until midnight, when I was relieved by the Twenty- 
fourth Ohio, and took my regiment a short distance to the rear. 

During the first day of January my regiment was moved from 
one place to another, as the plan of battle required, but did not 
get into any considerable action. On Friday, the 2d, my regiment 
was ordered with the brigade across the river, and placed in posi- 
tion on a slight eminence to the rear of, and as a support to. Van 
Cleve's division. All was quiet until about half-past 3 o'clock 
P. M., when a tremendous fire was heard along our front, and im- 
mense masses of the enemy were hurled against Van Cleve's divis- 
ion, which soon gave way. The enemy came down boldly, when 
I brought my regiment into action simultaneously with the Eighty- 
fourth Illinois, and we opened a severe cross-fire on the enemy. 
For more than an hour we held our hill, and, under our heavy fire 
and that of a battery from the other side of the river, the rebels 
gave way, and, when reenforcements poured in for us, they were 
already in full retreat. We held our position without further mo- 
lestation till Sunday morning, when we were ordered across the 
river into camp, the enemy having retired. 

My regiment, both officers and men, I am proud to say, behaved 
with bravery, courage, and discipline throughout the entire battle. 
The loss of the regiment was one hundred and seventy-seven, 



406 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

nearly all of whom were either killed or wounded. Accompanying 
is a correct list of the casualties. 

I have the honor to be, etc., 

N. L. ANDERSON, 

Colonel Sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. 

CASUALTIES IN THE SIXTH OHIO. 

The Sixth Ohio went into action at Stone River with an 
aggregate strength of 383 — officers and men ; of which number 
24 were killed, 19 mortally wounded, 108 wounded so severely 
as to require surgical treatment for various periods, from one 
month upward, and 12 were reported missing in action, making 
a total of 163,* as follows. This numeration omits 14 slightly- 
wounded not sent to hospital, which accounts for the slight 
discrepancy with the above report. Of the missing some were 
wounded before being taken prisoners : 

Field and Staff. — Killed — Adjutant A. G. Williams. Wounded 
— Colonel N. L. Anderson and Sergeant-Major J. F. Graham. 

Company A. — Killed — Second Lieutenant C. H. Foster and 
private Wm. S. Shaw. Mortally wounded — Sergeant James F. 

*It is believed that not more than six or eight regiments in the entire 
Army of the Cumberland lost more heavily in hilled and wounded than did 
the Sixth Ohio. Among the number that did so were the following: 
Twenty-first Illinois (General Grant's old regiment, which was badly cut 
up in charging a battery on Tuesday afternoon, December 30th), loss 244; 
Thirty-sixth Illinois, 193; and Eighteenth U. S. Infantry (comprising 
twenty-four companies when full), 271. These were considerably stronger 
regiments than the Sixth Ohio. The Eighty-fourth Illinois lost 147 killed 
and wounded, out of an aggregate of 362 — about the same per cent, as did 
the Sixth Ohio. Its killed and 7nor<a%, wounded numbered 64, which was 
by far the heaviest per centage of any regiment in Grose's brigade. Its 
fighting at Stone River was splendid throughout. The total loss of the 
Sixth Ohio was a fraction over forty-two and one-half per cent. 



STONE RIVER. 407 

Canady, and privates Frank H. Halliday and Wm. Krohmer. 
Wounded — Corporal Jos. Keel, and privates Chas. M. Thompson 
and Henry Herman. Missing — Corporal James M. Newman. 

Company B. — Killed — Corp. David H. Medary, and privates 
Albert Hardy and John Boerst. Mortally icounded — Captain 
Henry McAlpin. Wounded — First Sergeant Geo. W. Cormany, 
Corporal E. Hannaford, privates Guy C. Nearing, Albert Goettlo, 
Theophilus Davis, James Mitchell, Fred. J. Miller, John Helfen- 
bein, Andrew Schutteuhelm, William E. Doherty, John Cline, 
Anson Clapper, Hugo Hochstaedter, and J. Hahnemau. 

Company C. — Killed — Corporal Alois Kaelin. Wounded — Ser- 
geants Wm. Brown, John Crotty, and Aug. W. Peters (color ser- 
geant) ; Corporals Frank H. Thieman, James Jordan, Edward P. 
Horn, and John C. Hefferman ; privates Wm. Boyd, And. Schube, 
Jacob Stoeklin, H. Stocklin, John Laerch, Wm. Lidell, and W. A. 
Baldwin. Missing — Corporal John Sykes and private Edward 
Ayres. 

CompanyD. — 3fortally wounded — Private Adam Hugel. Wound- 
ed — Sergeant Wm. Bowers and Amos Willoughby, Corporal Lib- 
erty H. Jenks, privates Frank Dellar, Reinhold Hoffman, Frank 
A. Manns, Fred. Soghan, Stephen H. Weeks, Wm. W. Williams, 
Martin Weiderecht, A. C. Dripps, John Wakeman, S. W. Stephen- 
son, and Simon Weeks. Missing — Private Luther Carpenter, 
James H. Mahon, and Wm. Saxon ; musician Wm. A. Cormany. 

Company E. — Killed — Privates Simeon Shattuck, Robert Davis, 
Chas. Davis, Chas. Deikmeyer, and Michael Schwabe. Mortally 
wounded — Private Agathon Otto. Wounded — Corporal William 
Leike, privates Jos. L. Ferdon, Eugene Diserens, John O'Neil, 
Chas. H. Baldwin, Thos. Greenwood, Edmund M. Hall, Samuel 
Schroder, Geo. W. Bowen, Chas. Eckhardt, Enoch West, and Peter 
Kreps. 

Company F. — Killed — Corporal Lewis Evers and privates 
Christ. Ark, Thos. Brown, and Henry Willis. Mortally loounded 
— Privates Gottfried Heileman and John Q. Root. Wounded — 



408 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

Second Lieutenant F. S. Schieffer, Sergeant Wm. E. Jackson, 
Corporal John A. Seigel, and privates Wm. Kessemeyer, John 
Lawrence, John Linceman, Jos. T. Nepper, August Nierman, An- 
thony Schaffer, Stuart Terwilliger, and Wm. R. Wood. Missing 
— Corporal John B. Miller. 

CoMrANY G. — Killed — First Sergeant Geo. B. Ridenour and 
Corporal Oliver P. Rockenfield. Mortally wounded — Privates J. 
Addison Colwell, Robert M. Taulman, and Samuel P. Stallcup. 
Wounded — Corporals Harry Simmons (color-guard) and J. C. 
Schenck, and privates Thos. Burnett, Silas S. Dunn, Hamer Brad- 
bury, Anson W. Schenck, and John Fenhoff. Missing — Corporal 
Wm. A. Clark, and privates Chas. S. Dunn and And. M. Dunn. 

Company H. — Killed — Private Chas. Waltermet. 3Iortally 
wounded — Privates Martin Seebauer and Henry Rasher. Wounded 
— Captain H. H. Tinker, Corporals Thos. Kennedy (color-bearer), 
Chas. Ashman, and Albert Speece (color- guard), and privates Dele- 
van Brown, Samuel Lawrence, Edward Ulm, and Lawrence Geiss. 

Company I. — Killed — Privates Samuel Pulver, Jacob H. Rap- 
plee, and Fred. W. Spriugmeyer. Wounded — Corporal Edward 
Roderija, and privates And. Ray, Jos. Seiter, John McGlore, Sam- 
uel Parker, Gottlieb Heller, F. Larcom, John Storker, and Christ. 
Kohli. 

Company K. — Killed — Sergeant Thos. G. Drake and private 
Theo. Wesselman. Mortally wounded — Corporals H. G. Kreyeu- 
hagen and Jos. Martin ; and privates J. Nickel, Geo. Kelsch, 
David Klein, and Lewis F. Frantz. Wounded — First Sergeant 
Geo. Benson Nicholson, Sergeants W. Pappeubrook and Jethro 
T. Hill; Corporals Chas. Donnelly and Albert Kimble; privates 
Pedro Montaldo, Wm. Gain, Henry Beckman, Chas. Warner, 
Christ. Albert, Jos. Haddock, Henry Ellsing, Lorenz Huber, and 
Franz Meier. Missing — Private Chas. Cunningham. 



STONE EIVEE. 



409 



KECAPITULATION. 







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AVouaded 


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COLONEL GROSE'S OFFICIAL REPORT. 



Brigade, Second Division, "j 
Y OF THE Cumberland, > 
o', Tenn., Jan. 8, 1863. J 



Head-quarters Third Brigade, Second Division, 
Left Wing, Army 
Near Murfreesboro', 
Captain D. W. Norton, A. A. A. G., Second Division — 

Sir: In accordance with duty, I have the honor to submit the 
following report of the part taken by my brigade iu the recent bat- 
tles before Murfreesboro'. The five regiments composing this com- 
mand — viz.: Thirty-sixth Indiana, Major Kinley; Twenty-fourth 
Ohio, Colonel Jones ; Sixth Ohio, Colonel Anderson ; Eighty-fourth 
Illinois, Colonel Waters, and Twenty-third Kentucky, Major Ham- 
rick — aggregate (officers and men) 1,788 — left camp near Nashville, 
December 26, 1862, with the division, and bivouacked that night 
in front of Lavergne, twelve miles distant. Next day, the 27th, 
we moved to the west bank of Stewart's Creek, five miles, and my 
brigade was put in position in front, to the right of the pike, the 
pickets of the enemy separated from ours by the creek. With light 
skirmishing, we rested here until Monday morning (the 29th), when 
we received orders, and moved forward in double line of battle, on 
the right of the pike (the Thirty-sixth Indiana and Eighty-fourth 
Illinois in the front line), wading Stewart's Creek — waist deep to 
most of the men — and advancing to within two and a half miles of 
Murfreesboro', where we arrived near sunset, with skirmishing all 
the way. We there rested for the night. At early morn next 
day skirmishing again commenced and continued during the day, 
•with more severity than before, the artillery taking a heavy part. 



410 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

During the niglit the brigade was relieved at the front by the bri- 
gade of Colonel Hazen, and retired to the rear to rest, and to be 
held in reserve. Up to this time the loss in my brigade was ten 
wounded. 

On the bright morning of December 31st, the division, under 
command of its brave general, at early day, was in battle line, the 
brigade of General Cruft on the right, and that of Colonel Hazen 
on the left — both in double line — with my brigade in reserve in 
rear of the center, in supporting distance, with the batteries of 
Cockerill and Parsons in positions to support the lines. While we 
were perfecting our lines in the morning the divisions of Generals 
Negley (?) and Rousseau filed by my rear through a dense cedar 
grove, which lay in rear of General Cruft's brigade and immedi- 
ately up to the right of my brigade ; the brigade of Colonel Hazen 
in an open cotton-field, the pike dividing his left from the division 
of General Wood, and the line of these two divisions resting nearly 
perpendicular to the pike. The engagement had been raging 
fiercely some distance to our right during the early morning, and 
at near eight o'clock the clash of arms to our right had so far 
changed position that I saw the rear of my brigade would soon be 
endangered. Hence, I set to work changing my front to the rear, 
which was quickly done, with the left, when changed, a little re- 
tired, to support the right of Colonel Hazen's brigade, then 
closely engaged with the enemy, our two brigades forming a V. 
My brigade was no sooner thus formed to the rear than the enemy 
appeared in heavy lines, pressing the forces of ours that had been 
engaged to the right of our division upon our front in fearful con- 
fusion. In this new formation the Sixth Ohio and Thirty-sixth 
Indiana were in the front line, the latter on the right, supported 
in the second line by the Twenty-third Kentucky and the Eighty- 
fourth Illinois, with the Twenty-fourth Ohio in an oblique form, a 
little to the right of the rear line. In this shape the Sixth Ohio 
and Thirty-sixth Indiana advanced into the woodland about two 
hundred and fifty yards, and there met the enemy in overwhelm- 



STOXE EIYER. 411 

ing numbers. Here Major Kiuley and Captain Shultz, of the 
Thirty-sixth Indiana, fell — the former badly wounded and the lat- 
ter killed. Colonel Anderson, of the Sixth Ohio, was here wounded, 
and his adjutant, Lieutenant A. Gr. Williams, and Lieutenant Fos- 
ter fell dead, with several of their comrades. These two regiments 
were forced from the woodland, and retired to the right, in the di- 
rection of the pike; while the other three regiments, aided by the 
eight-gun battery commanded by Lieutenant Parsons, with such 
efficient assistants as Lieutenants Huntington and Cushing, poured 
a galling fire into the ranks of the pursuing enemy, and caused 
them to break in confusion and retire back to the woods, out of 
our reach, leaving the ground covered with their dead and dying, 
with the 'heavy loss of the Sixth Ohio and Thirty-sixth Indiana 
lying mingled with theirs upon the bloody field. After about 
half or three-quarters of an hour, the enemy renewed his attempt 
to advance, but was again repulsed, with heavy loss on both sides. 
Between eleven and twelve o'clock, the enemy not appearing iu 
our immediate front, and the lines of our forces that had retired 
or been driven from the right being by this time reformed parallel 
with the pike, the front of the brigade was again changed, so as to 
assist the brigade of Colonel Hazen, in the direction as formed in 
the morning. The Twenty-fourth Ohio and Thirty-sixth Indiana 
were soon thrown forward near the pike, and had a terrible conflict 
with the enemy. Here Colonel Jones and Major Terry both fell, 
and were carried ofi" the field in a dying condition. Each regiment 
of the brigade from this time onward until night closed the awful 
scene, alternately took its part in holding the position we occupied 
in the morning. 

The enemy having gained the cedar woods to the right, where 
we took position in the morning, it became necessary to so change 
our position as not to be within reach of small arms from that 
woodland. Hence, at night-fall, the center of the front line of 
the brigade lay on the pike, and diagonally across the same, front- 
ing to the south-east, our left resting at the right of the line of 



412 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

General Wood's division. "We were then a little retired, and tlie 
center of the brigade about two hundred and fifty yards to the left 
of where we commenced in the morning. We ceased fighting for 
the night in the front lines on the pike. During the day, each of the 
reo-iments having exhausted their ammunition, had to replenish their 
cartridge-boxes, many having fired over one hundred rounds. 
When Major Kinley fell, in the morning, the command of the 
Thirty-sixth Indiana devolved upon Captain Woodward ; and upon 
the fall of Colonel Jones and Major Terry, Captain Weller was 
left in command of the Twenty-fourth Ohio. Although I com- 
manded in the battle of Shiloh, and fought there throughout with the 
rest of Buell's army, yet this battle, on the last day of the old year, 
was by far the most terrible and bloody (in my commanfl) that I 
have ever witnessed. During the latter part of the night — or, 
rather, early in the morning of January 1st — our whole line was 
retired for a more eligible position, six or seven hundred yards, 
and my brigade was moved to the rear to rest. 

During Thursday, January 1st, we were ordered across to the 
north bank of Stone River, to support a division on the extreme 
left of our line, where an attack was anticipated, but returned to 
our resting-place before night, no attack being made that day. 
On the next day, January 2d, in the forenoon, we were again 
ordered across the river, to support the division there in position, 
with its right resting on the river bank, and its lines (double 
lines) formed at right angles to the river, extending therefrom 
about half a mile. About eight hundred yards below where the 
right of the division was posted, the river changes its direction, 
running about one-half mile in the rear, and nearly parallel to the 
lines of the division formed as above. When my brigade arrived 
on the ground, I was requested to put it into position so as to 
protect the left flank of the division referred to, and repel any 
attack that might be made in that direction. The Twenty-third 
Kentucky was accordingly posted to the left of the division in 
question, about two hundred yards retired j the Twenty -fourth Ohio 



STONE RIVER. 413 

three hundred yards to its rear, fronting the same way; and the 
Thirty-sixth Indiana to the rear of the Twenty-fourth Ohio, 
fronting diagonally to the flank of the other two, the right of the 
Thirty-sixth Indiana distant from the left of the Twenty-fourth 
Ohio ahout one hundred and fifty yards. Special directions were 
given each of these regiments to change front as the exigencies 
of the occasion might require, in case of an attack. The Eighty- 
fourth Illinois and Sixth Ohio were placed one hundred and fifty 
yards from the left of the Thirty-sixth Indiana, in one line, and 
fronting in the direction of the Twenty-fourth Ohio and Twenty- 
third Kentucky, as well as in that of the division to our right and 
front. The right of the Eighty-fourth Illinois rested on the bluff 
at the river, with the Third Wisconsin Battery near its left and 
front. The Sixth Ohio was on the left of the Eighty-fourth Illi- 
nois. Thus in position, I took the precaution to have each regi- 
ment hurriedly throw before them barricades of such materials as 
were at command, consisting of fences, buildings, etc. About half- 
past three P. M., the enemy made an assault in front and on the 
right, in strong force — perhaps in three lines — and with three bat- 
teries distributed along the forest, and a heavy contest ensued, last- 
ing from one-half to three-quarters of an hour, when the lines of 
the division gave way in considerable confusion, and as those troops 
retired toward the river, many of them broke through the lines of 
my brigade. I went to my front regiments and superintended the 
changing of their fronts respectively, so as to meet the enemy as 
best we could, in his approach from an unexpected direction, which, 
to some extent, threw the Twenty-third Kentucky and Twenty- 
fourth Ohio, my advanced regiments, into confusion, and caused 
them to retire toward the left of the main line of the brigade ; but 
they kept up a strong fire on the advancing enemy as they retired. 
The Thirty-sixth Indiana changed its front, and as the enemy's 
lines came near, opened on them a deadly fire. On they came, 
however, until within reach of the Eighty -fourth Illinois and Sixth 
Ohio, behind their barricades, when both these regiments saluted 



414 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

them with a terrible fire. By this time, all my regiments were en- 
gaged, and the enemy's masses began to falter, and soon they broke 
in disorder and commenced their flight back over the area they 
had so fiercely advanced upon, pursued by the Thirty-sixth Indi- 
ana, Twenty-third Kentucky, and Twenty-fourth Ohio to the line 
occupied by the extreme outposts of the division before the action 
commenced. Here night overtook us. The battle was over, and 
the enemy gone beyond the reach of our guns. Colonel Hazen's 
brio-ade crossed the river to our rear, to support us, about the time 
of the enemy's retreat, and moved closely, with the Eighty-fourth 
Illinois, after my pursuing regiments to give assistance if needed. 
Some other forces [principally from Negley's and Davis' divisions] 
crossed the river to my right and moved up the river bank in pur- 
suit of the enemy, as my regiments advanced. What forces these 
were I have not learned. The battery posted near the brigade at 
the commencement of this day's fight fired a few rounds and took 
a hasty leave, and I have not made its acquaintance since. Artil- 
lery from the opposite side of the river rendered valuable aid, by 
playing upon the enemy in his advance and retreat. Our loss this 
day was not large compared with that on the 31st of December. 
That of the enemy was very heavy. 

I can not too favorably notice the coolness and promptitude 
shown by each and every field officer of the brigade. They seemed 
to vie with each other as to which should most promptly execute 
every command, without regard to danger. And the line officers 
and men of the respective regiments appeared neither to regard or 
fear any exposure, however great. New and old regiments alike 
acted the heroic part, and braved every peril. Captain Weller, in 
command of the Twenty-fourth Ohio, fell at his post on the last 
battle-field, and left Captain Cockerill in command, who bravely 
and skillfully discharged his whole duty. As much may be said 
of Captain Woodward, who succeeded to the command of the Thirty- 
sixth Indiana (upon the fall of Major Kinley) at a critical and 
perilous moment in the first day's engagement. 



STONE EIVEE. 415 

[The report specially compliments Captain Peeden, Lieutenant 
Duke, and Dr. Kersey, of the brigade staff, makes fiivorable men- 
tion of Colonel Grose's orderlies, etc., and proceeds] : 

But I am left to remember and lament with friends, the fall in 
this mighty struggle of human prowess, such brave spirits as Colo- 
nel Jones, Major Terry, Captain Weller, Captain Shultz, Captain 
King, Adjutant Williams, Lieutenant Foster, Lieutenant Ball, 
Lieutenant Abercrombie, and others, whose earthly conflicts are 
now ended forever. I may truthfully add that I mourn with those 
that mourn over these irreparable losses ; and to the brave wounded, 
whose fate may or may not be uncertain, would say — You have my 
earnest prayer for a speedy restoration to health and usefulness. 

The casualties of the brigade, as near as can be ascertained,* 
are as follows : 

Officers Officers Men Men Men Total, 
killed, wound, killed, wound, missing. 

Twenty-fourth Ohio 4 4 10 68 12 98 

Twenty-third Kentucky... 3 8 50 22 83 

Eighty-fourth Illinois 2 5 33 119 8 167 

Thirty-sixth Indiana 2 6 23 85 18 134 

Sixth Ohio 2 4 23 134 14 177 

Total 10 22 97 456 74 659 

Lists of which, with the reports of the regimental commanders, 
are respectfully forwarded herewith. 

I have the honor to remain, etc., 

W. GROSE, 

Colonel Commanding Third Brigade {old Tenth). 

* Subsequent revision reduced the casualty lists a trifle — as in the 
Eighty-fourth Illinois to 155, and the Sixth Ohio to 163. The loss of the 
brigade in killed and wounded was, however, considerably above the av- 
erage of the rest of the army. 



416 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

MURFRBESEORO' AND CRIPPLE CREEK. 

(JANUARY 5-JUNE 23, 1863.) 

AS might be said of almost every regiment in the Army of 
the Cumberland, few events of much importance befell 
the Sixth Ohio, after the battle of Stone River, until the army 
moved upon Tullahoraa, a period of nearly six months. Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Christopher rejoined the regiment on the even- 
ing of the 7th of January, and commanded it until Colonel 
Anderson's return, late in March. It was now encamped about 
three miles from Murfreesboro', near the McMinnville turn- 
pike. The regimental train also arrived on the 7th, and that 
night the two hundred and twenty survivors of Stone River 
once more slept under shelter of their tents. A day or two 
afterward, Hazen's and Cruft's brigades moved to Readyville 
and Cripple Creek, respectively, where they remained until the 
general advance in June ; and late on the 9th, Grose's brigade 
changed camp two miles north-westward, to within about 
two miles of Murfreesboro', and the Sixth Ohio being sent 
on picket, passed a dark and dismal night in the rain. On 
the 14th, the regiment escorted a supply train to Nashville, 
returning on the 18th, after a two days' march of thirty-one 
miles. A heavy rain during the night of the 14th and all the 
next day, had made camp a genuine mud-hole, and for several 



MUEFEEESBOEO' AND CRIPPLE CREEK. 417 

I 

weeks after this date the weather was constantly either raw 
and damp, or cold. Late on the 23d, the Third Brigade 
marched ten miles to Readyville, there reeuforcing the First 
and Second Brigades, and at 10 A. M., the next day, the 
division reached Woodbury, where it routed a regiment of 
rebel cavalry, (said to be Morgan's old command,) killing Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Hutchinson and half a dozen of his men, and 
captui'ing a number of prisoners. It was generally believed 
that the whole force might have been taken, if Colonel Wilder's 
brigade had succeeded in gaining the rear of the town, as was 
contemplated, before the attack was made in front. The bri- 
gade returned to Readyville at night, after marching eighteen 
miles in all, and late on the 26th moved back to its camp near 
Murfreesboro', in the midst of a cold rain pouring down in 
torrents. On the 29th, the Sixth Ohio was ordered to escort 
a forage train, but being unable to find it after diligent search, 
it returned to camp. 

On the 2d of February, the designations of the Center, Right 
Wing, and Left Wing, of the Army of the Cumberland, were 
respectively changed to the Fourteenth, Twentieth, and Twen- 
ty-first Army Corps. On the 3d, the Sixth Ohio and Thirty- 
sixth Indiana were detailed as escort for a forage train, but 
were turned back on reaching the pickets, not being accom- 
panied by cavalry and a section of artillery, as department 
orders required. The weather was bitterly cold. Next day 
the same train and escort went eleven miles out the Las Casas 
turnpike, procured a fine lot of forage, lost the bugler of the 
Third Tennessee Cavalry (who went ahead, contrary to orders,. 
and was captured in sight of the advance guard), and returned 
to camp at 11 P. M., having been delayed five hours in cross- 
ing the train at Stone River, and there being overtaken by a 
driving snow-storm. On the 7th, the brigade changed camp 
27 



418 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

to a higher and much better location, somewhat nearer Mur- 
freesboro'. About this time heavy details were being made for 
labor upon the rifle-pits and the immense earth-works with 
which Rosecrans was fortifying Murfreesboro'. From the 11th 
to the 15th, Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher, by department 
orders, was engaged upon an important court-martial. On the 
14th, the Sixth Ohio, under command of Major Russell, had 
another tiresome march, with a forage train, and next day 
Surgeon Stej^hens rejoined the regiment from his long absence 
on hospital duty in Nashville. The 22d of February was ob- 
served by the reading of a j)atriotic order from department 
head-quarters, and noisy national salutes by the batteries at 
retreat. On the 24th, the Sixth Ohio and Thirty-sixth Indiana 
went out seventeen miles with another forage train, and re- 
turned the same night — "making a trip of thirty -four miles," 
says a diary, "which, over such roads, is outrageous. Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Carey, who commanded the expedition, is sadly 
lacking in judgment." Next day, the companies received or- 
ders to make out their "Rolls of Hon6r," which was accord- 
ingly done.* General Rosecrans had previously ordered the 
name, " Stone River," inscribed on the national colors of every 

*" Rolls of Honor" and "Light Battalions" were among Rosecrans' 
projects for heightening the morale and soldierly emulation of his army. 
Regimental Rolls of Honor consisted of the names of ten sergeants, ten 
corporals, and fifty privates, most distinguished for bravery, good conduct, 
etc. ; and brigade rolls of the regimental roll, and in addition thereto the 
names of four captains, four lieutenants, and two field officers below the 
rank of colonel. Each brigade was to organize a Light Battalion, com- 
posed of three privates from each company, one commissioned officer, two 
sergeants, and three corporals from each regiment, and one field officer 
from the brigade — who were promised the best rifled arms (revolving, if 
possible,) and exemption from picket duty. They were to be mounted as 
Boon as practicable, to be encamped at brigade head-quarters, and " looked 



MUEFREESBORO' AND CRIPPLE CREEK. 419 

regiment engaged in that battle, and was successfully, exerting 
himself to improve the discipline and efficiency of the army, as 
well as increase its strength. On the 27th, the Sixth Ohio 
was paid for two months ending October 31st, 1862, and next 

upon as the elite of the army and models for their pi'ofession," etc. Partly 
through the discouragement of the War Department, and partly, perhaps, 
because the scheme lacked practicability, the Light Battalions were never 
organized in most of the brigades, and even the Roll of Honor system was 
soon forgotten. As a matter of possible interest to some, however, the 
Sixth Ohio's Roll of Honor is appended, as below. Those names to which 
a * is attached, were nominated for the Light Battalion, as were also 
Captain Donovan and Lieutenant Cormany, from among the officers: 

Company A — Sergeant Ed. Edwards,* Corp. John A. Cushing,* and pri- 
vates Frank Brown, E. B. O'Brien,* Christopher Roth,* Theo. Seib,* and 
Charles Messerschmidt. 

Company B — Sergeant W. J. Thorp,* Corporal E. Hannaford,* and pri- 
vates Alonzo Burgoj^ne, Emil Fritz,* John Harvey,* John Aufderheidc,* 
and William Barner. 

Company C — Sergeant John Crotty, Corporal James Jordan, and privates 
George Santhoff, David Fitzgibbon,* Francis Kelley,* Joseph T. Fox,* 
and Henry Hayne. 

Company D — Sergeant William Bowers, Corporal L. H. Jenks, and pri- 
vates H. H. Brockman,* Hugo Edler, George Kopp,* George F. Mosher,* 
and William Dill. 

Company E — Sergeant Jos. A. Turley, Corporal William Leike, and 
privates N. A. Britt,* John Kincella,* William Schroder,* George W. 
Bowen, and Robert Tuxworth. 

Company F — Sergeant Otto Bewer, Corporal J. E. Hewitt, and privates 
Fred. Finer,* Milton Linebeck,* William Witte, Peter Lagaly,* and Wm. 
Kessemeier. 

Company G — Sergeant Henry F. Howe, Corporal William A. Clark, 
and privates William Lotze,* S. P. Stallcup, G. W. J. Miller,* John Hud- 
dleston,* and Anson Schetick. 

Company H — Sergeant Charles Haller, Corporal Joseph H. Werhle, and 
privates John A. Bonner,* Benjamin Worrell, John Douglass, George 
Whistler,* and Owen Murphy.* 



420 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

day four of the officers, who had been commissioned in Novem- 
ber, tendered their resignations (which were not accepted), on 
account of the harsh rulings of the pay department, as to the 
time when their pay as officers began. On the 28th, the resig- 
nation of Major Russell was accepted, and three days later he 
started home, and is now the head of a large job printing estab- 
lishment in Cincinnati. This leads us to speak of the other 
changes among the officers up to the above date. 

On the 3d of February, several new commissions arrived, 
whereupon the following assignments of promoted officers were 
announced : Captain Montagnier to Company B, which, since 
the battle, had been commanded by Lieutenant Holmes ; First 
Lieutenant Choate (still absent) to Company G ; Second Lieu- 
tenant Graham — promoted from sergeant major, and absent by 
reason of wounds — to Company E ; Second Lieutenant George 
T. Lewis, promoted from sergeant in Company I, to Company 
A ; and First Lieutenant Throop, promoted from first sergeant 
of Company A, appointed adjutant. On the 19th of Febru- 
ary, the following: Captains Donavan and Thatcher to Com- 
panies K and F, respectively, (although they remained until 
April 1st in command of Companies E and K); First Lieu- 
tenant SchiefPer (absent by reason of wounds) to Company E; 
First Lieutenant Irwin, then acting quartermaster, to Com- 
pany F ; First Lieutenant Kestner to Company C, (though in 
command for several weeks afterward of Company H ;) Second 
Lieutenants Jesse C. La Bille, George W. Cormany, and Leon- 

CoMPANY I — Sergeant W. B. Maclane, Corporal Richard Garwood,* and 
privates James Martin,* John Jackson,* D. E. McCarty,* Newton Buck- 
nell, and Max. Essinger. 

Company K — Sergeant W. S. Squires, Corporal J. H. Cohagen, and pri- 
vates Charles Warner,* Henry Funk,* Harry Shelton, Theo, Ortman, and 
Daniel Henrie.* 



MUEFEEESBORO' AND CRIPPLE CREEK. 421 

ard Boice — promoted from first sergeants in Companies F, B, 
and E — to Companies F, G, and C, respectively ; and Second 
Lieutenant Josiah W. Blanker, promoted from commissary 
sergeant, to Company I ; First Sergeant Fred. H. Mellen and 
private Julius L. Stuart, both of Company A, were respectively 
appointed sergeant-major and commissary sergeant. On the 
12th of January, Captain Erwin was appointed Topographical 
Engineer on Colonel Grose's staff. On the 4th of February, 
Captain Southgate was succeeded as acting assistant adjutant- 
general by Captain George M. Graves, of the Thirty-sixth In- 
diana, and took command of Company C, thus relieving Lieu- 
tenant Gilman, who for the next two months commanded 
Company F. 

Everett S. Throop, the third and last adjutant of the Sixth 
Ohio, was born on the 5th of October, 1836, in Hamilton, 
New York. His boyhood was passed upon his father's farm, 
but in September, 1857 — a few months after graduating at 
Hamilton Academy — he removed to the West. Locating in 
Cincinnati in February, 1858, he became first assistant in the 
Third Intermediate School, which position he retained about 
two years and a half, meanwhile devoting such leisure as he 
could command to the study of the law. In August, 1860, he 
entered the law office of Kebler & Force, as student, and grad- 
uated from the Cincinnati Law School on the 16th of April 
following. The President's call for troops had then just been 
issued. He immediately enlisted in Company A, of the Guth- 
rie Greys, marched with the three-months' Sixth Ohio to Camp 
Harrison, and, promptly reenlisting for three years, in October 
(1861) was made sergeant. In April, 1862, he was appointed 
to act as ordnance sergeant for the regiment, in which capacity 
he rendered great and constant assistance to Lieutenant Horton, 
division ordnance officer, and in October was appointed first 



422 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

sercyeant of Company A. His promotion to adjutant followed 
immediately upon the battle of Stone River, his commission 
bearing date December 31st, 1862. Lieutenant Throop brought 
to the discharge of his new duties a combination of intelligence, 
decision, and systematic energy which made him in every re- 
spect a most excellent and valuable officer. 

On the 4th of March, Colonel Grose, with a portion of his 
staff, started homeward upon leave of absence, and until his 
return, on the 31st, the brigade was commanded by the gen- 
tlemanly Colonel Waters. '' On the 5th," says an officer, 
" the Sixth Ohio, as usual, stood to arms before daylight, and, 
the day being quiet throughout, we were visited by a number 
of officers from other regiments. The sutler received a supply 
of beer, which was first rate, and helped us to have a good 
time. Nothing like beer, my boy, to make a soldier content 
with his lot ! " On Sunday, the 8th, the regiment was in- 
spected by Captain Norton, division inspector, who was accom- 
panied by General Palmer and his adjutant-general. Captain 
Muhlemanl Next day it received orders to strike tents, pack 
up, and get ready to move at a moment's notice, which was 
done, but to no further purpose than to give rise to a hundred 
rumors, the tents all being re-pitched at night. On the 11th, 
the regiment was paid by Major Diven, for the two months 
ending December 31st, 1862. Drills were now held twice a 
day, whenever the weather would permit — that in the afternoon 
usually being brigade drill, under the supervision of General 
Palmer. On the 18th there was a grand review of Critten- 
den's corps by General Rosecrans, whose wife and several other 
ladies were present, and the Sixth Ohio was praised on all 
sides for its excellent marching and soldierly appearance. On 
the 21st heavy firing was heard on the right, and also on the 



MURFEEESBORO' AXD CRIPPLE CREEK. 423 

Las Casas turnpike, but nothiug came of it. On the 23(1, the 
brigade changed camp about one-half mile nearer Murfreesboro', 
■where it was soon more comfortably fixed than at any time since 
leaving Nashville. The Stone River wounded and captured 
were now returning to the front every day, and the army was in 
good condition and spirits. On the 27th, the brigade marched 
to Cripple Creek, to support Hazcn, at Readyville, who had 
discovered a considerable body of rebels in his immediate front, 
but the enemy having withdrawn, after simply testing the lines, 
on the 29th it returned to INIurfreesboro'. While upon this 
expedition, the Sixth Ohio had its first experience with shelter- 
tents, issued for the occasion. Describing the night of the 27th, 
a Sixth Ohio letter says : " I slept soundly till my partner 
awoke me. Rain was pouring down in torrents, and although 
our shelter-tent kept us dry enough overhead, the water was 
rushing under us in a perfect flood. It was impossible to see 
each other for the intense darkness, but no time was to be lost 
in debating what to do. We rolled up our wet and dripping 
blankets for seats, and, with guns and cartridge-boxes across 
our knees, leaned our heads on our hands, and our shoulder 
against each other for mutual support, and in this position 
slept till sunrise. We felt a little the worse for wear, of course, 
but after taking a good stretch, a wash at the creek, and a 
quart of hot coifee, we were all right for another day's duty." 
Colonel Anderson, nearly recovered from his wound, was 
found in camp when the regiment returned, and was welcomed 
by all. He immediately resumed command. At 1 A. M., on 
the 2d of April, Grose's brigade marched for Readyville, there 
relieving Hazen's — which made a successful reconnoissance to 
W^oodbury — and at night returned to Murfreesboro', after a 
day's march of twenty-four miles. Next day it returned to 
Readyville, twelve miles. At 4 A. M., on the 4th, it went 



424 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

on to Woodbury, whence the rebels were again driven, and in 
the evening the Sixth Ohio moved back four miles to a point 
where five companies had been left to guard two bridges, mak- 
ing eleven miles' marching in all. On the 5th, the regiment 
repeated its trip to Woodbury, returning at dark to its camp- 
ing-place of the night before. On the 7th, the Third Brigade 
was ordered to Bradyville, and, on its return, the rear-guard 
was fired into by guerrillas, but received no injury. This day 
the Sixth Ohio marched twelve miles. On the 8th, the brigade 
returned to Murfreesboro', fourteen miles, finding the "Ander- 
son Troop," (the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry,) previously 
supposed to have been captured, safe and sound at Readyville. 
The result of these operations was the capture of about sixty 
prisoners, one hundred horses and mules, a large quantity of 
hay and corn, and a considerable amount of cigars and tobacco, 
of which the last-named articles were liberally distributed 
among the denarcotized troops. A field officer, in a private 
letter, sums uj) other results as follows : " We had a few skir- 
mishes, burnt a few houses, walked many miles, and learned 
nothing. I am convinced, firstly, that the rebs have no idea 
of attacking us at present, and, secondly, that we have no idea 
of attacking them. Murfreesboro' is a perfect Gibraltar, 
trenched, ditched, and fortified on all sides. We can hold it 
against the Southern Confederacy." 

On the 9th of April, Colonel Anderson applied to depart- 
ment head-quarters to have the detailed men from the Sixth 
Ohio returned thereto, stating that he then had written details 
for one hundred and thirteen men, scattered all over the coun- 
try, and had lost only seven men by disease during a service 
of nearly two years. Action was at once taken in accordance 
with this request, but within a few weeks nearly all these men, 
or as many others, were again on detailed service; for when- 



MURFEEESBORO' AND CRIPPLE CREEK. 425 

ever brains and clerkly capacity were in demand, the Sixth 
Ohio was commonly the first source to which quartermasters, 
commissaries, etc., looked for a supply. The 9th of April is 
also the date of Gordon Granger's repulse of Van Dorn, at 
Franklin. On the 10th, a special muster was held in each 
regiment, in accordance with the President's order supple- 
mentary to the proclamation regarding the return of deserters 
prior to April 1st; and the same day rebel cavalry captured 
a train near Lavergne, with |40,000 of soldiers' money, much 
of which was from Palmer's division. On the 12th, the 
Sixth Ohio was paid for the two months ending February 
28th. About this time the troops were in a state of anxious 
expectancy in regard to a promised " system of furloughs in 
limited number," which, however, was never perfected ; and 
the camp of the Third Brigade was fitted up with especial 
care and pride. Says a field officer of the Sixth Ohio, writ- 
ing home: "My camp is in splendid condition. Cedars have 
been planted around the grounds, in front of the field and 
line officers' tents, and along each side of the company streets. 
From the center of the parade grounds floats 'Old Glory,' 
streaming out from a tall flag-staff as proudly and defiantly 
as ever. Around the base of the pole, sod has been planted, 
and a little circular grass plat gives a verdant air to the whole 
place. The whole camp is trenched, and the tents are clean 
and well aired. In short, I am quite ready to receive a visit 
from our sanitary friends or any of the medical department. . . 
. The order for the consolidation of regiments has been 
withdrawn in this army, and, at any rate, its enforcement would 
not have affected us. 

' O God, that bread should be so dear, 
And life and blood so cheap ! ' 

Life and blood, one hundred and fifty pounds, at $13 a 



426 THE STORY OF A EEGIMEXT. 

month; eggs, 75 cents per dozen; butter, SI 50 per pound; 
bread, 40 cents a loaf, etc. Wonder how prices compare in 
Richmond?" 

On the 21st, General Reynolds, with his own division, 
Wilder's brigade of mounted infantry, and a detachment of 
ciivalrv, made a highly successful raid on McMinnville and 
the railroad between that point and Manchester. On the 23d, 
Captain Bense's whole company, save one sergeant, two cor- 
porals, and eighteen privates, were relieved fi'om service as 
provost guards for the brigade, and returned to duty with the 
regiment. On the 28th, Colonel Anderson was detailed upon 
a department court-martial in Murfreesboro', and for the next 
seven weeks the regiment* was commanded by Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Christopher. On the 29th, shelter-tents were issued the 
regiment ; " and it was very funny on the first night of their 
adoption,'' says a Sixth Ohio letter, " to hear the men bark- 
ing, yowling, snarling, and yelping in their ^ dog- tents.' AVoe 
to the unfortunate loiterer who, after taps, seeks his quarters ! 
From every tent he is greeted by a snarl and a vigorous 
pinch, and is glad to reach his ' kennel ' with an uubruised 
leg." On the 30th, which had been set apart as a day of 
national fasting and prayer, a brigade inspection was substi- 
tuted for the usual drills, but in spite of Rosecrans' order 
reenforcing the President's proclamation, very Kttle fasting was 
done. The men had plenty of money, as the sutler had of 
goods, and were now " living on the top shelf." 

On the 5th of May, the Twenty-third Kentucky moved to 
Readyville, for temporary attachment to Hazen's brigade. At 
this time tidings of the Chancellorsville campaign were coming 
daily, exciting, first, general rejoicing, then anxiety, and lastly, 
intense disgust. Simultaneously intelligence was received of 
the capture of Colonel Streight's expedition, in which was the 



MURFEEESBORO' AND CRIPPLE CREEK. 427 

Third Ohio, old friends of the Sixth. At midnight between 
the 11th and 12th, Grose's brigade marched for Cripple Creek, 
eight miles distant, the Sixth Ohio and four companies of the 
One Hundred and Tenth Illinois bringing up the rear as es- 
cort for the division ammunition train. " Can't see the object 
of moving us at midnight," says an officer's diary, " but learn 
it was caused by the reports of some members of General 

R 's staff, who had been out here and got their necks full 

of whisky. It is astonishing what a small amount of brains 
it requires to be a staff officer." On the 13th, the Sixth Ohio 
establislied itself in camp, (which Colonel Grose had selected 
for it in an^ open field, without any shelter from the sun, 
greatly to the men's indignation,) and for the next few days 
was busily engaged in fitting up its new quarters. " At Crip- 
ple Creek," says one account, "we remained very quiet, with 
the same routine of duties day after day, namely, up at 3 A. 
M., stand in line of battle till near sunrise, nominally go 
through a squad drill, about 10 A. M., and in the afternoon 
out on brigade or division drill, which was more strict. How 
much we wanted rain about this time ! We were contin- 
ually watching the clouds, and praying, in a soldier's way, 
for a shower." During its stay at Cripple Creek, the Third 
Brigade — sometimes alone, and sometimes in connection with 
the First (Cruft's) Brigade — was several times reviewed, and 
the Sixth Ohio was more than once highly complimented by 
General Palmer and other officers. 

On Sunday evening, June 14th, a tremendous rain-storm 
swept over the camp, accompanied by a high wind. " The 
storm flattened out every thing," says a letter, " and made our 
beautiful camp a scene of perfect desolation. Our shades, 
composed of rails and cedar-boughs, were blown over, and 
generally fell on the tents with crushing weight, compelling 



428 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

the boys to crawl out as best they could, and seek safety, 
though in the rain. It was amusing to see in what a variety 
of ways this visitation was taken. Some of the victims ap- 
peared to consider it a very good joke, while the countenances 
of others were as woe-begone as if they had lost their all. 
However, all hands turned in next morning to clear away 
the ruins and build anew, which they did more durably and 
with even greater taste than before." Colonel Anderson re- 
sumed command of the regiment on the 16th. The weather 
was now very hot, and at this date a member of the Eighty- 
fourth Illinois was sun-struck, while on brigade drill. On 
the 19th, the Sixth Ohio was on duty as the inlying picket. 
On the 21st (Sunday), there was another grand review, "in 
which every thing was in good condition and would have 
passed off finely," says a Sixth Ohio corporal, " if the brigade 
band had not spoiled it all by playing a perfect jumble of 
every imaginable time, from a dead march to a double-quick. 
To hear the various remarks which their performances elicited, 
was decidedly rich. One very pious wish I heard expressed 
was that they might blow at their horns hard enough to blow 
themselves away, horns and all. All hands finally had to 
'gang their aiu gait,' and leave the band to theirs." Next 
day the Twenty-third Kentucky rejoined the brigade from 
Readyville, and on the 23d, John Shockman, a private of 
the First Kentucky, was " shot to death with musketry," in 
presence of the whole division under arms, for the crime of 
desertion. Marching orders, concerning which there had been 
many fitful rumors for weeks past, were received that evening — 
one hundred rounds of ammunition and twelve days' rations. 

Captain Westcott, who had resumed command of his com- 
pany early in January, resigned March 9th, and came home. 



MURFREESBOEO' AND CRIPPLE CREEK. 429 

On the 31st of March, Captain Erwin rejoined the regiment 
from duty on the brigade staff", and Lieutenant Gihnan returned 
to Company A (which for three weeks had been in charge of 
Lieutenant Lewis), each taking command of his own company. 
Lieutenant Graham returned from absence by reason of wounds 
on the 27th of March, and Captain Tinker on the 3d of April. 
Since the battle. Company H had been under the command of 
Lieutenants Meline and Kestner, tlie latter of whom now re- 
turned to his own company. Lieutenant Choate, having re- 
joined the regiment at the same date, assumed command of 
Company G, which for several weeks previous had been under 
the command of Lieutenant Cormany. Lieutenant Shoemaker 
was relieved from duty as Division Master of Transportation 
on the 10th of April, and returned to the regiment. Lieuten- 
ant Irwin, thus relieved of the care of the quartermaster's de- 
partment, took his place in Company F. On the 17th of April 
assignments of promoted officers were announced as follows : 
Major Erwin, promoted from Captain of Company E; Cap- 
tains Sheridan (detached) and Gilman, to Companies E and A, 
respectively ; First Lieutenant Antram, to Company H ; First 
Lieutenant Holmes, and Second Lieutenant W. R. Glisan, pro- 
moted from first sergeant, remained with their old compa- 
nies — B and D, respectively. On the 2d of May, Lieutenant 
Slanker was transferred from Company I to Company K, and 
Lieutenant Lewis, from Company A to I. At the same date, 
Second Lieutenant W. R,. Goodnough, promoted from quarter- 
master-sergeant, was assigned to Company A. He was the last 
second lieutenant ever mustered in the Sixth Ohio, its com- 
panies now being below the minimum strength authorized by 
law, and, under regulations soon afterward adopted by the 
War Department, not entitled to officers of that grade. Pri- 
vate Edwin A. Hannaford, of Company B, was appointed to 



430 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

the vacant quartermaster-sergeantship. Captain Getty resigned 
a few weeks after the battle of Stone River, but was recom- 
missioned, upon Colonel Anderson's urgent recommendation, 
and on the 28th of May ag^in assumed command of Company 
G. On the 2 2d of June, Lieutenant Choate was assigned to 
the command of Company E, replacing Lieutenant Graham, 
whom the War Department, by some misunderstanding, had 
just dismissed the service for absence without authority. He 
was soon reinstated, as we shall see. Dr. Ames (still absent) 
resigned on the 12th of June, and was succeeded by Assistant 
Surgeon W. W. Fountain, a native of Rochester, New York, 
but for several years a resident of Columbus, Ohio, where he 
had lately graduated from the Starling Medical College. Dr. 
Ames was soon afterward commissioned surgeon of the Four- 
teenth United States Colored Infantry, which position he re- 
tained until the muster-out of that command in March, 1866. 
He then located at Chattanooga, but in the summer of 1867 
returned to Cincinnati, where he is now engaged in the active 
practice of his profession. 

On the 15 th of April, Lieutenant Boice was detailed upon 
the brigade staff as aid-de-camp; and during April and May, 
Captains Russell and Montagnier, and Lieutenants Holmes and 
La Bille, were detailed upon different courts-martial and mili- 
tary commissions — each for a duty of several weeks' duration. 
Leaves of absence were granted, during March and April, to 
Surgeon Stephens, Captains Montagnier, Southgate, Thatcher, 
and Russell, and Lieutenant Antram — to the first-named for 
fifteen, and the rest for ten days ; and in May, to Cajitain Gil- 
man, for fifteen days. 

Thus, when the army moved southward to seize upon the 
rock-walled fortress of Chattanooga, the officers upon duty 



MUEFREESBORO' AND CRIPPLE CREEK. 431 

with the Sixth Ohio were as follows. They were in command 
of about three hundred and forty effective men : 

Field and Staff — Colonel Anderson, Lieutenant-Colonel 
Christopher, Major Erwin, Surgeon Stephens, Adjutant Throop, 
Quartermaster Shoemaker, and Assistant Surgeon Fountain. 

Company A — Captain Gil man and Lieutenant Goodnough. 

Company B — Captain Montagnier and First Lieutenant 
Holmes. (The latter had commanded the company for several 
weeks immediately preceding.) 

Company C — Captain Southgate and First Lieutenant 
Kestner. 

Company D — Captain Ilussell and Second Lieutenant Glisan. 

Company E — First Lieutenant Choate (temporarily detached 
from Company G) commanding company. 

Company F — Captain Thatcher, First Lieutenant Irwin, and 
Second Lieutenant La Bille. 

Company G — Captain Getty and Second Lieutenant Cor- 
many. 

Company H — Captain Tinker, First Lieutenant Antram, 
and Second Lieutenant Meline. 

Company I — Second Lieutenant Lewis, commanding com- 
pany (Captain Bense still retaining the appointment of provost 
marshal for the brigade). 

Company K — Captain Donovan, and Second Lieutenant 
Blanker. 



432 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 



CHAPTEE XXX. 

FROM CRIPPLE CREEK TO THE CHICKAMAGUA. 

(JUNE 24— SEPTEMBER 11, 1863.) 

MURFREESBORO' was securely fortified, and stored 
with supplies in abundance, by the time the roads be- 
came fairly settled in the spring ; while the army was not only 
stronger in numbers than when it fought the victorious battle 
of Stone River, but was in a higher state of discipline and 
efficiency than ever before. The great and pressing want of 
an adequate cavalry force, however, and the necessity of keep- 
ing Bragg on the qui vive, to prevent him from detaching 
troops for the relief of beleaguered Vicksburg — an object which 
Rosecrans and his generals imagined could best be attained by 
allowing him to remain in Middle Tennessee — delayed an ad- 
vance for many weeks; in fact, for a considerable time after the 
country had begun to expect it, and the Government had vir- 
tually demanded it. At last, on the 23d of June, (twelve days 
after holding a council of war, at which every corps and divis- 
ion commander in the army had expressed a more or less de- 
cided opposition to any effort to advance), Rosecrans gave the 
orders for a forward movement at daylight next morning. 
Bragg's infantry forces were mainly assembled behind strong 
and elaborate fortifications at Shelbyville, Wartrace, and Tul- 
lahoma, his front being covered by a range of high, rocky 



FKOM CEIPPLE CEEEK TO THE CHICKAMAUGA. 433 

'hills, cleft by various gaps, of which the rebels held undisputed 
possession. Rosecrans' plan was to deceive his antagonist by 
making a strong feint on Shelby ville, with his right, while the 
main body of his army should concentrate rapidly at Manches- 
ter (close upon the enemy's right flank,) move to the rear of 
Tullahoma, and force Bragg to a disastrous battle, or else 
an almost equally disastrous retreat by unfavorable routes 
over the mountains toward Chattanooga. Accordingly, while 
Granger, with the Reserve Corps, demonstrated heavily to- 
w^ard Shelbyville, Thomas moved by the direct road through 
Hoover's Gap and Beech Grove to Manchester, with McCook 
within supporting distance on the right, moving through Lib- 
erty Gap and Fairfield, and Crittenden on the left, taking an 
obscure and circuitous route through Bradyville. Of Critten- 
den's corps. Palmer's and Wood's divisions alone took part in 
this movement — Van Cleve's being temporarily left at Mur- 
freesboro'. 

June 24th, Wednesday. — The Second Division marched at 
7 A. M., moving nearly, due South from Cripple Creek to strike 
the Murfreesboro' and Bradyville turnpike, out which it pro- 
ceeded several miles further, and bivouacked for the night about 
a mile beyond Bradyville, or fourteen miles from Cripple Creek. 
The cavalry advance guard had a skirmish with the Third 
Georgia Cavalry, near Bradyville, and lost one man killed and 
another wounded. A heavy rain set in early in the forenoon, 
continuing all day and all that night. 

June 25th. — "Rain continued falling in torrents," says a 
diary, "and the roads were awful. Nevertheless, we trudged 
on, with heavy firing on our right, and some skirmishing on 
our own front — not enough, however, to delay us — and about 
noon reached a long, steep hill. This we climbed, and early 
28 



434 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

went into camp near Fountain Springs, having marched eight 
miles. A heavy detail was made from the brigade and sent 
back, under Major Erwin, to assist in getting the train forward. 
The wagons had to be dragged up by the men, fifty of them 
pulling and pushing at the same wagon, and thus moving it 
slowly but surely along. The mules, at such times, were taken 
out altogether. Company H's wagon broke a wheel and was 
left behind." 

June 26th. — Still it rained. The division remained in camp 
all day, heard more firing upon the right, and sent back heavy 
additional details for the train, which finally arrived after dark. 

June 27th, — More rain. Starting at 2 P. M., the division 
marched eleven miles, or to within three miles of Manchester, 
which, it was found, had been occupied during the forenoon 
by Reynolds' division of Thomas' corps. " Our company," 
says a Sixth Ohio corporal, " was detailed as wagon-guard 
(which, at that time, meant a party to see that the wagons were 
brought forward in some way or other) and, while daylight re- 
mained, succeeded pretty well, though at the cost of many a deep 
wade in mud of all consistencies. In places where the road 
was unusually soft and boggy, we would stack arms, then chop 
down small trees and ' corduroy,' or, if fences were at hand, we 
would make for them, and build a veritable rail road. We 
were still several miles behind the division when night settled 
down, very dark and rainy. How we ever kept the road at 
all after that is more than I can tell. We worked along all 
night, though very slowly, and finally got into camp at 10 A. 
M., next day." 

June 28th, Sunday. — More rain. In the afternoon, the 
division changed camp two miles nearer Manchester, and next 
day two miles further, passing through that place in the midst 
of a drenching rain. Says a member of the Sixth Ohio : " One 



FROM CRIPPLE CREEK TO THE CHICKAMAUGA. 435 

experience connected with our weaiy, weary trip from Cripple 
Creek, is indelibly impressed on my memory. My mess-mate 
(dear, lamented Ed Rowe) and I had secured the services of a 
diminutive contraband, about ten years old, who was to black 
our shoes and make himself generally useful, in consideration 
whereof we obligated ourselves to keep him supplied with ra- 
tions. On the first day out, we gave him a haversack to carry, 
containing all our earthly store of hard-tack. What was our 
amazement, at a short halt, to see him coolly set it down in a 
mud-puddle, and seat himself upon it ! When we remonstrated, 
his innocent reply was, ' Massa Ed Rowe, I did n't know 
'twould hurt 'em ! ' At another time, when we were on half- 
rations, and had received eight large crackers as our joint share 
of hard-tack for two days, Ed and I, in order to make the 
supply hold out, if possible, made a scanty supper and when 
Bob came round for his, told him to help himself, but, as he 
regarded his inner boy, to be sure and touch it lightly. Next 
morning, on going to the haversack, we found only two crackers 
left — for five meals ! Bob was interrogated forthwith. ^ I 'se 
hungry all night myse'f,' was the doleful reply; 'didn't git 
nuffin only fo' crackers for supper!' We dispensed with his 
services after that." 

June 30th. — More rain. The division stored its baggage at 
Manchester, preparatory to an advance in the lightest possible 
marching order to the rear of Bragg's army, the whole of which 
had now fallen back to TuUahoma. The troops were on short 
rations, which soon grew scantier still. The division supply- 
train, now largely increased by the baggage wagons just emp- 
tied, was placed under the charge of Lieutenant Peck, whose 
exceeding energy had made him famous throughout the corj)S. 
At the battle of Stone River, where thousands of troops suffered 
greatly for supplies, he not only kept his own division well pro- 



436 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

vided, but was enabled to issue one hundred and sixty thousand 
rations to other commands. 

July 1st. — Marched with three days' rations, but no bag- 
gage, taking the old road to Pelham through Hillsboro'. The 
weather was very hot, and the roads worse than ever. The 
division got mired in a swamp, and, after floundering about in 
it for some time, went into camp five miles from Manchester, 
about the time that rain began falling again. In the evening, 
the welcome news was received of the evacuation of Tullahoma, 
whither General Rosecrans was already removing his head- 
quarters. 

July 2d. — Very hot, with more rain at night. A heavy detail 
was made to carry the ammunition through the swamp; which 
done, the empty wagons were finally dragged through. The 
division marched at noon, with the Sixth Ohio in rear of the 
ammunition train, and bivouacked at the end of eight or nine 
miles. 

July 3d. — Rain in torrents. After marching four miles, the 
division reached Elk River, at Morris' Ford, on the road be- 
tween Hillsboro' and Decherd, found it swollen almost out of 
its banks and quite impassable, and thereupon marched back 
two miles to camp on Indian Creek, where it remained during 
five days of much rain, more mud, and less rations. The soil 
in this vicinity is peculiarly spongy, if it may so be character- 
ized, and miniature springs were continually oozing forth under 
the tents and elsewhere all over camp. At this time the Army 
of the Cumberland shared with the whole country in jubilations 
over Lee's defeat at Gettysburg, and Grant's glorious successes at 
Vicksburg. " We were lying quietly in camp at Indian Creek," 
says the letter of a Sixth Ohio officer, " when a distant report 
(was it thunder or a cannon?) fell dull upon our ears. An- 
other and another, in quick succession, yet with clock-like reg- 



FEOM CRIPPLE CREEK TO THE CHICKAMAUGA. 437 

ularity. They are firing a salute at Tullahoma, seven miles 
away. An hour elapses, and we are all eager with curiosity ; 
for, in the meantime, Thomas, at Decherd, and Van Cleve, at 
Manchester, liave heard the glorious news, and thundered forth 
with thirty-five guns apiece. Why do not we learn something ? 
General Crittenden paces up and down before his tent, nervous 
and angry; on every side the armies have greeted some wel- 
come intelligence, but we are still in doubt. Suddenly, the 
earth trembles, the smoke curls upward, and in sharp, distinct 
roar, Russell's Battery crashes upon the air. The men are wild 
with anticipated joy, and a long, loud shout rings out an echo 
to the cannon, * Vicksburg fallen and Lee overthrown ! ' You 've 
heard the news, you 've felt the joy ! " 

By a hot, hard march of fifteen miles through Hillsboro', the 
division, on the 8th, returned to Manchester, where its arrival 
was signalized by another hard rain. It spent the next five 
and a half weeks lying quietly in camp near this place. Wood's 
division being posted at Hillsboro', Van Cleve's at McMinn- 
ville, and the remainder of the army along the Nashville and 
Chattanooga Railroad — principally at Tullahoma and Decherd. 
Sheridan's division was pushed forward to Stevenson and 
Bridgeport, as soon as the railroad could be re-opened to those 
points, which was accomplished on the 25th of July. Rose- 
crans' brilliant success (effected by a series of flanking op- 
erations that compare favorably with the most celebrated 
campaigns of modern warfare) insjiired his troops witli an ex- 
uberant confidence, amounting almost to a conviction of abso- 
lute invincibility. This feeling was worth every thing to the 
Army of the Cumberland at a later day, making Bragg's 
bloody victory at Chickamauga a barren one at last. In the 
rebel army, meanwhile, there seemed to be a growing dissat- 
isfaction and consciousness of weakness, such, in fact, as in- 



438 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

duced many hundreds of Tennesseeans to desert and return to 
their former homes. The mistake was not unnatural, there- 
fore, when Rosecrans' men pronounced the war in Tennessee 
" about played oujt," * as they did by common consent. 

But to resume the thread of our chronology. Colonel 
Grose's pass regulations were very strict at Manchester, and 
generated some ill. feeling for the time being. The brigade 
accorded him full praise for courage in battle, and pleasant 
manners on the march, but now regarded him as unnecessarily 
exacting. About the middle of July, the army received intel- 
ligence of the fall of Port Hudson and Morgan's last great 
raid beyond the Ohio. " It is singular," says an officer's 
diary, " that the authorities at home have not been able to 
check him, I hope he will show them what war means." 
Ten days later : " We have news at last of Morgan's capture, 
\^'ith nearly all his band of horse-thieves ; there is much re- 
joicing in consequence." On the 16th, the Second Division 
began cutting fifteen thousand railroad ties to replace those 
which the rebels had removed from the McMinnville road for 
use elsewhere. The quota assigned the Sixth Ohio was one 
thousand, which, fi-om the scarcity of axes, required several 
days to turn out. On the 18th, the regiment was paid by 
Major Diven, for the four months ending June 30th ; and on the 
20th changed camp to better grounds, a mile from Manchester, 
on the Hillsboro' road. A day or two later General Crittenden 
was summoned home to attend the bedside of his dying father, 
and for the next three weeks the Twenty-first Corps was com- 
manded by General Palmer, the Second Division being mean- 
while left in charge of General Cruft, the ranking brigade 

*0r, as a staff oiBcer in the Sixth Ohio expressed it, by a pun of unmiti- 
gated atrocity, it was " about ended, to all in-tents and ' purp '-houses ! " 



FROM CRIPPLE CREEK TO THE CHICKAMAUGA. 409 

commander. On the 27th a division court-martial convened, 
of which General Hazen was president, and Colonel Anderson 
and Captain Eussell were members. On the 28th, the brigade 
received orders to chop one hundred and sixty-seven cords of 
wood, in two feet lengths, for the railroad locomotives, and the 
Sixth Ohio at once began cutting its proportion, which was 
thirty cords. Camp life at this period is thus described in an 
officer's letter home : " We lie here, on an open plain near 
Manchester, broiling and frying in the summer sun, a perfect 
emblem of torpidity. Every morning some fifty men shoulder 
each an ax, and stroll lazily off to the distant woods to cut 
railroad ties; thirty more attend guard-mounting, and disap- 
pear behind the brigade guard-tent. Then all signs of life 
disappear. No one is seen until evening, when the wood- 
choppers straggle back, dress parade is held, and the men begin 
to cook their suppers. After sundown the camp is alive again ; 
officers saunter about in groups, the merry hum of conversation 
is heard, the regimental Glee Club sings cheerily, (unless, per- 
chance, it be away serenading Generals Hazen, Cruft, or other 
officers,) and drowsiness is laid aside till midnight. Such is 
life in camp at present. Why, the other day I was so bored 
for something to do, that I sent for the barber and had my face 
shaved clean. This occupied half an hour, and I then spent 
the remainder of the day in laughing at my reflection in the 
looking-glass. Throop says I look like ' turtle-soup — lunch at 
10 o'clock.' Go down Third Street almost any forenoon, and 
you'll see what he means. Since we have been in this camp, 
we live like fighting cocks. Tender mutton, cabbage, new 
potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, fresh bread and butter we eat 
every day ; and, as I write, three little lambs are making the 
afternoon hideous with their bleatings. I'll have at least one 
of them butked and gagged, if they don't stop soon. . . , 



440 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

I have just this moment read the Commercial, of the 31st, 
and am dehghted with Burnside. Shave Morgan, Cluke, and 
Duke, and put them in jail! Bully!" 

On Sunday, August 2d, the brigade was reviewed by Col- 
onel Grose, and on the 9th by General Cruft. On the 3d, 
Captain Bense was relieved as provost marshal of the brigade, 
and with his detail, which was complimented for its efficiency 
and good conduct, returned to the regiment. Two days after- 
ward he obtained a fifteen days' leave of absence, simultane- 
ously with a five days' leave granted Dr. Stephens. On the 
4th, a detachment of one hundred and fifty men, under Major 
Erwin, went out with a forage train, returning safely on the 
6th, after marching many miles. Drills were resumed a day 
or two later, but were a great weariness to the flesh on ac- 
count of the heat. In splendid condition in every respect, the 
Sixth Ohio about this time accepted a challenge which the 
Nineteenth Ohio had made any regiment in the corps, for an 
inspection of arras; but the speedy resumption of active cam- 
paigning prevented the trial from taking place. On the 14th, 
the regiment was inspected by Captain John W. Brooks, of 
the Twenty-fourth Ohio, the newly-appointed brigade inspec- 
tor; and on the 16th the following detail was sent to Ohio 
for the purpose of bringing forward drafted men, whose prob- 
able accession to its ranks the whole regiment regarded \vitli 
unmistakable disfavor. As it eventuated, however, the draft 
in Ohio was repeatedly postponed, and the Sixth Ohio never 
received a recruit from that source. Lieutenant-Colonel Chris- 
topher, Captain Donovan, and Lieutenant Kestner; Sergeants 
Edwin Edwards, Company A; Wm. L. Wolverton, Company 
I ; Joseph Turley, Company E ; John Peer, Company G ; 
and Thomas M. Carr, Company B ; and Corporal D. W. 
McGillicuddy, Company H. 



FROM CRIPPLE CREEK TO THE CHICKAMAUGA. 441 

General Rosecrans was foiled in his endeavors to strengthen 
liis cavalry arm, as was requisite to meet coming exigencies, by 
the scarcely-concealed hostility of General Halleck, the master 
marplot of the war, and Secretary Stanton, who protested that 
" he would be damned if he would give E-osecrans another 
man ; " nevertheless, he pushed forward his preparations with 
energy and good judgment, and, by the middle of August, was 
ready to renew the campaign and carry the National banners in 
triumph into Chattanooga — the prize long coveted, and certain 
gateway to grander, if not decisive victories in the future. 
Again was Bragg completely overreached by the strategy and 
entei'prise of his opponent, and, although his effort to retaliate 
was partially successful at Chickamauga, Chattanooga was per- 
manently lost to the Southern Confederacy. 

August 16th, Sunday. — While Thomas and McCook took up 
their line of march over the Cumberland Mountains south-east- 
ward, to cross the Tennessee at Caperton's Ferry (near Steven- 
son), Bridgeport, and Shell Mound — with the object of flanking 
the enemy out of Chattanooga, by passing the Sand and Look- 
out Mountains, and threatening his communications toward 
Dalton and Atlanta — Crittenden's corps was put en route for 
the Sequatchie and Tennessee Valleys, there to menace Bragg's 
front from the northern bank of the Tennessee. Palmer's divis- 
ion was ordered to Dunlap, Wood's to Thurman, and Van 
Cleve's to Pikeville. The Second Division (Palmer's) this 
day marched north-eastward on the Hickory Creek road, and 
encamped near Viola, a small hamlet about ten miles south- 
west of McMinnville and eighteen from Manchester. A heavy 
rain set in about noon, but it proved less persistent than the 
memorable storms which characterized the Stone River and 
Tullahoma campaigns. 

August 17th. — Marched into Northcut's Cove, at the foot of 



442 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

the main ridge of the Cumberland Mountains, and thence 
through a narrow gap into Rodgers' Hollow, a fertile vale 
w^atered by Collins' River, which stream the Sixth Ohio had 
elsewhere forded more than once the year before. Passing Ir- 
vino- College, the troops crossed the river, and, not far beyond, 
bco'an the tortuous ascent of the mountain by an excellent turn- 
pike road connecting McMiunville and Dunlap, and camped on 
Rock River, on the plateau at the summit, after a march of 
about twenty miles. 

August 18th. — The last of the train did not reach camp until 
noon, so that the division marched only five or six miles, and 
again encamped on the mountain. At this date the Sixth Ohio 
was temporarily detached for duty with Hazen's brigade. 

August 19th. — The division marched fourteen miles, of 
which the last five were down the eastern slope of the mount- 
ain, to the vicinity of Dunlap, in the Sequatchie Valley, which 
is one of the loveliest regions in Tennessee. Here Cruft's and 
Grose's brigades remained, but Hazen's, on the next day, 
marched fourteen miles further, across Waldron's Ridge (the 
eastern range of the Cumberland Mountains) to Poe's Tavern, 
at an important cross-road in the Valley of the Tennessee, which 
was now occupied by four brigades, namely, Hazen's, Wagner's, 
Wilder's mounted infantry, and Minty's cavalry. The joint 
exertions of these commands were highly successful in mislead- 
ing Bragg into the belief that Rosecrans' main army was about 
crossing the Tennessee somewhere above Chattanooga, and 
attempting to cut off Buckner's forces at Loudon, whither they 
had retreated before Burnside's victorious column, now in pos- 
session of the greater part of East Tennessee, including Cum- 
berland Gap and Knoxville. On the 21st Wilder's mountain 
howitzers shelled Chattanooga from the northern bank of the 
river, producing great consternation among the citizens; and 



FROM CRIPPLE CREEK TO THE CHICKAMAUGA. 443 

eight days afterward the Union army began crossing the Ten- 
nessee in force, at three different points, many miles below. 

The Sixth Ohio spent ten very pleasant days at Poe's Tavern, 
luxuriating in whatsoever the country afforded, and well treated 
by Colonel Hazen, as well as the Union people of that region, 
who gladly welcomed the troops among them. On the 1st of 
September the regiment recrossed Waldron's Ridge to rejoin 
its own brigade in the Sequatchie Valley, leaving Hazen to 
new and still greater demonstrations of activity in the Valley 
of the Tennessee. Fourteen miles brought it to Dunlap, 
whence the residue of the division had that morning set out 
southward; twenty miles more, on the 2d, to Jasper ; and seven 
miles, on the 3d, to the mouth of Battle Creek. Reunited at 
this point, the brigade, on the 4th, followed Cruft's across the 
Tennessee on rafts, and marched five miles to Shell Mound, 
there to await the arrival of the trains and artillery which had 
been sent around to the pontoon bridge at Bridgeport. While 
these impedimenta were coming up, many of the troops, on the 
5th, improved the opportunity to visit the celebrated Nickajack 
Cave, half a mile distant ; and in the afternoon the division 
(or, more precisely speaking, Cruft's and Grose's brigades of it) 
marched eastwardly seven miles to Falling Waters, near White- 
side Station. On the 6th it moved southward up " Murphy's 
Hollow," which debouches through a narrow gap in the Rac- 
coon JNIountains into Lookout Valley, and, after marching six 
or seven miles, bivouacked on the Chattanooga and Trenton 
turnpike, seven miles from tlie latter place and eighteen from 
the former. Here it lay all next day in readiness to support 
Wood's division, which had moved along the railroad from 
Whiteside Station and found the rebels in force on Lookout 
Mountain, guarding the entrance to Chattanooga, and extend- 
ing their picket-lines and signal stations along the mountain's 



444 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

crest, within plain sight of both divisions in Lookout Valley 
below. Thomas and McCook were many miles up the valley, 
on the right, and still pushing on in menacing array toward 
Bragg's rear. 

On the 8th Palmer's division marched eight miles down 
Lookout Valley, to a point about five miles south of Wau- 
hatchee, and within eleven miles of Chattanooga, in closer sup- 
port of General Wood, who was making a strong and skillful 
reconnoissance to unmask the enemy's movements beyond the 
mountain. Next morning, the 9th of September, Chattanooga 
was discovered to have been evacuated during the night, and 
"Wood moved into it at once, taking possession without firing 
a shot. Meanwhile three regiments of Grose's brigade climbed 
the heights of Lookout to Summertown, which was a hamlet, 
formerly of fashionable summer resort, on the summit of the 
mountain, overlooking Chattanooga. The Twenty-fourth Ohio, 
having the advance, succeeded in getting a few shots at the 
enemy's pickets as they hastily retreated ; the preconcerted 
signal, to indicate that the ridge was clear of rebels, was then 
given to the troops lying in the valley below, and they began 
moving by the main wagon-road across the " Nose of Look- 
out" — the bluff extremity of the mountain, abutting on the 
Tennessee. Says an officer of the Third Brigade : * " The 
prospect that met our view when we reached Summertown was 
grand beyond description. We were upon a high, bold bluff, 
nearly two thousand feet above the Tennessee River. The 
city of Chattanooga, almost deserted, was only two and a half 
miles distant, and so much beneath us that we could look down 
into all its streets. Long lines of dust marked the road upon 
which the enemy was retreating, and a few miles to the east- 

* Quartermaster Simmons, of the Eighty-fourth Illinois, and historian of 
that rcj^iment. The Sixth Ohio followed the main wagon-road. 



TEOM CRIPPLE CREEK TO THE CHICKAMAUGA. 445 

ward rose the thickly-wooded slopes of Missionary Ridge, with 
the Pigeon and Chattagutta Mountains far in the distance be- 
yond. Broad and fertile valleys, or coves, lay between the 
mountain ranges, beautiful in their quiet repose, and not yet 
entirely devastated by the terrible simoom of civil war. It 
was a lovely picture." Toward evening the regiments de- 
scended by the road leading to Chattanooga, and, rejoining the 
division, moved across Chattanooga Valley and out the road to 
Rossville, near which place the whole command encamped after 
a day's march of sixteen miles. 

Brilliantly successful up to this point, Rosecrans already had 
the objective of the campaign in his possession. The very ease, 
however, with which Chattanooga had been occupied wag 
really portentous of a mighty peril. Thrown oif his guard 
for the moment, Rosecrans at once accepted as true the first 
reports ffom his extended front to the eifect that Bragg was in 
hurried retreat through Ringgold and Dalton to Rome, which 
place was beyond the Coosa and sixty miles from Chattanooga ; 
and instead, therefore, of calling in his scattered corps and con- 
centrating at once to guard the prize so skillfully won, he made 
dispositions to pursue the rebel army in its supposed retreat, 
hoping to cripple it, at least, before it could pass beyond his 
reach ; and intending, after that, to take position behind the 
mountain gaps, for what would then be the easy task of hold- 
ing Chattanooga and making ready for another advance — per- 
chance to Atlanta! But Rosecrans was terribly mistaken in 
his convictions as to Bragg's strategy.* Instead of being in 

* Gen. Roseci'ans does not directly admit his misconception of Bragg's 
purposes, much less the mistakes into which he was led thereby ; but it is 
very difficult to understand how any candid investigator of the facts in the 
case could arrive at any other conclusion than that set forth in the text. 
Mr. Whitelaw Reid's statement (in "Ohio in the War," vol. I, p. 340), 



446 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

precipitate retreat ujion Rome, the rebels were quietly concen- 
trating at Lafayette, only twenty-six miles from Chattanooga, 
leaving a large and strongly-supported detachment at Lee and 
Gordon's INIills (about equidistant from the two places), to 
watch the line of the Chickamauga and report the movements 
of Crittenden's corps beyond. They had already been reen- 
forced by Buckner's troops from East Tennessee, while the 
remnants of the Mississippi army and Bragg's own reserves 
were coming up by every train ; and, above all, two splendid 
divisions belonging to Longstreet's corps were just in the act 
of embarking at Eiclimond, to turn the tide of war in Georgia 
and roll it redly back across the Tennessee. 

September 10th. — Crittenden's corps having been ordered to 
follow up the enemy vigorously on the Ringgold turnpike, 
Palmer's division moved through a gap in the range known 
as Missionary Ridge, but halted at the end of ten miles, to 
wait for rations, and bivouacked near Graysville, which is on 
Chickamauga Creek, about twelve miles east of Rossville. 
Rebel cavalry were encountered soon after starting in the 
morning, and a body of them charged the advance, rode pell- 
mell over four companies of the First Kentucky Infantry, 

that the battle of Chickamauga was fought to enable the Union army to 
concentrate at Chattanooga^ is altogether erroneous. General Wood is sub- 
stantially correct in saying (in a private manuscript, now lying upon the 
writer's table): "There is abundance of evidence in existence to prove 
that, at the date of the occupation of Chattanooga by the leading division 
of the Twenty-first Corps, neither the Fourteenth nor Twentieth Corps had 
become involved in the laborious passage of the Lookout Mountain range. 
Botli were in Wills' Valley. The assertion that the battle of Chickamauga 
was the unavoidable price of the permanent possession of Chattanooga is 
a fallacy." Mr. Swinton, one of the ablest and most careful writers upon 
the war, advances identically the same opinion. Greeley's "American 
Conflict" also contains an expression of similar import. 



FROM CRIPPLE CREEK TO THE CHICKAMAtlGA. 447 

captured fifty men and two officers, and escaped with them 
unharmed. One of the rebel officers, as he dashed close along 
the front of the Union line, stood up in his stirrups, waved his 
hat in bravado, and yelled, '^ Hurrah for hell and Georgia!" 
In punishment, as was supposed, for cleaning out the smoke- 
house, etc., of a rebel captain belonging to this band. Colonel 
Grose, in the afternoon, sent the Sixth Ohio a mile or two out 
to drive away some guerrillas still hovering on the front, which 
object was soon and easily accomplished ; " but forty barrels of 
grape-cider," says one account, " being discovered in a cellar 
near where we halted, the last state of the regiment was worse 
than the first. It came back happier than a Dutch picnic ! " 
At night General Wood found a contraband who communi- 
cated the startling intelligence of Bragg's real whereabouts. 
Rosecrans had also ascertained that the main rebel army had 
retreated along the Lafayette road, but how far was not known. 
September 11th. — Palmer's division was rejoined by Hazen'a 
brigade and marched to Ringgold — five miles. Wood was sent 
to Lee and Gordon's Mills to reconnoiter, there remaining until 
the battle. Colonel Wilder's mounted infantry pushed out to- 
ward Tunnel Hill, skirmishing heavily with rebel cavalry. 
The result of Wood's reconnoissance, together with information 
derived from other sources, soon satisfied General Rosecrans of 
Bragg's proximity and great strength, and made him realize 
that it was a matter of life and death to effect the speediest 
possible concentration. From flank to flank of his scattered 
army the distance was measured by scores of miles over rugged 
mountains, which no wheel could pass, except by difficult roads, 
at wide intervals. The enemy, lying opposite the center, mean- 
while had it in his power to fall upon either Thomas or Crit- 
tenden, crush them both in quick succession, and then destroy 
McCook^ helpless and alone, amid the entanglements of the 



448 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

mountains. To think of the fate which, for a whole week 
preceding the battle of Chickamauga, hung suspended over the 
Army of the Cumberland, by a thread no surer than Bragg's 
imbecility, is enough to make one's flesh creep with horror ! 

Before we again follow the Sixth Ohio into the storm of 
battle, let us pause just a moment to note the personnel of its 
officers. Assistant Surgeon Fountain having tendered his 
resignation on account of ill health, it was accepted on the 8th 
of August. He subsequently served, on contract, in various 
hospitals in Louisville and Nashville; was afterward recom- 
missioned, as assistant surgeon of the Eighty-eighth Ohio, with 
the position of executive officer of the post hospital at Camp 
Chase, and was mustered out of service in June, 1865. He 
then returned to the practice of his profession in Columbus. 
Dr. Israel Bedell, who was the next and last assistant surgeon 
of the Sixth Ohio, was born in Niagara County, New York, in 
1834, came to Knox County, Ohio, in 1839, and, after reading 
medicine in Mt. Yernon, Ohio, and attending one course of 
lectures at Ann Arbor, Michigan, finally graduated from the 
Medical University in the city of New York. He joined the 
regiment early in September (1863), and, to use the language 
of Dr. Stephens, " took hold like an old soldier." On the 4th 
of September, Second Lieutenant Wesley B. Maclane, who had 
been promoted from first sergeant of Co. I, dating several 
months back, was assigned to Co. B, with which he continued 
until a few minutes after the regiment got under fire at Chicka- 
mauga. He resigned in October and came home. In this 
connection we may record the appointment, on July 5th, of 
private George W. Pyne, of Co. A, and John H. Bueltel, of 
Co. K, as Principal Musicians, agreeably to a recent order from 
the War Department recognizing that grade. Lieutenant 



FROM CRIPPLE CREEK TO THE CHICKAMAUGA. 449 

Schieifer reached the front July 21st, but was not nearly re- 
covered from his Stone River wounds, and in August was 
ordered to the rear upon other duty. On the 13th of July 
Lieutenant Choate was relieved from the command of Co. E, 
by liieutenant Antram; and on the 16th of August Lieutenant 
Irwin was assigned to the command of Co. K, during the 
absence of Captain Donovan, on recruiting service, etc. 

Thus the officers that took part with the Sixth Ohio in the 
Chiokaraauga campaign were as follows : 

Field and Staff — Colonel Anderson, Major Erwin, Adjutant 
Throop, Surgeon Stephens, Assistant Surgeon Bedell, and 
Quartermaster Shoemaker. 

Company A — Captain Oilman and Second Lieutenant Good- 
nongh. 

Company B — Captain Montagnier, First Lieutenant Holmes, 
and Second Lieutenant Maclane (the latter as before noted). 

Company C — Captain Southgate. 

Company D — Captain Russell and Second Lieutenant 
Glisan. 

Company E — First Lieutenant Antram (detached from 
Company H). 

Company F — Captain Thatcher and Second Lieutenant 
La Bille. 

Company G — Captain Getty, First Lieutenant Choate, and 
Second Lieutenant Cormany. 

Company H — Captain Tinker and Second Lieutenant Meline 

Company I — Captain Bense and Second Lieutenant Lewis. 

Company K — First Lieutenant Irwin (detached from Com- 
pany F) and Second Lieutenant Slanker. 

29 



450 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

CHICKAMAUGA. 

(SEPTEMBER 12-20, 1863.) 

SEPTEMBER 12th.— Proceeding a few miles south-west- 
ward of Ringgold, along Pea Vine Ridge, Palmer's divis- 
ion changed its line of march directly to the west, lost several 
men in a skirmish near Gilbert's, and, after marching thirteen 
miles, reached Gordon's Mill, wdiere the entire corps was now 
concentrated. "Wilder's mounted- infantry, following and cov- 
ering this flank movement, had heavy skirmishing, especially 
at Leet's tan-yard. In the afternoon, Hazen's brigade made a 
reconnoissance two miles beyond the ford which Wood had been 
guarding at Gordon's Mill, and skirmished with the enemy 
until near night-fall. The alarming fact could no longer be 
doubted tliat Bragg's main army, heavily reenforced, was on 
the Lafayette road but a few miles south of Gordon's Mill, 
bent upon retaking Chattanooga. Crittenden's position was 
now dangerous in the extreme, on account of its isolation ; and, 
at the same time, his corps was numerically weaker than either 
Thomas' or McCook's. At this date, the Fourteenth Corps 
was in the vicinity of Bailey's Cross-roads, eighteen miles 
from Gordon's Mill, toward the head of McLemore's Cove, 
and beyond Missionary Ridge, and the Twentieth was resting 
near Alpine, in Broom town Valley, forty miles from the same 



CHICKAMAUGA. 451 

position by the nearest route, and fifty-seven miles by that 

which McCook subsequently took, crossing the Lookout range 

f 
twice. 

September 13th, Sunday. — E,eveille was sounded early, with 
a tremendous clangor of drums, fifes, and bugles ; and bands 
were also dispatched hither and thither, to come back playing 
noisily, as if reenforcements were arriving. The three divis- 
ions were put into position for defense, making as great a show 
as possible, and here remained all day. Cruft and Wilder 
were sent out to reconnoiter on the left, the Fourth United 
States Cavalry on the right, toward McLemore's Cove, and a 
brigade of Van Cleve's division to the front, the last-named 
force driving the rebel outposts a distance of three miles toward 
Lafayette, and sustaining several casualties. 

September 14th. — In obedience to orders from General Rose- 
crans, Palmer's and Van Cleve's divisions were moved west- 
ward to "the southern spur of Missionary Ridge, so as to 
command the valley of Chattanooga Creek " (beyond the ridge) 
whence General Thomas was communicated with upon the 
right. The Second Division this day marched about eight miles, 
reaching its assigned position on Chattanooga Creek between 
eight and nine o'clock in the morning. 

September 15th. — Disappointed by his failure in a promising 
attempt to strike Thomas unawares, as his divisions pushed 
across McLemore's Cove to Dug Gap in the Pigeon Mountains, 
the enemy was found to have withdrawn from the front between 
Crittenden and Thomas, and McCook's advance being reported 
within supporting distance of the latter, the Twenty-first Corps 
was countermarched toward Gordon's Mill. Palmer's division, 
by a march of eleven miles, obtained a position near Gowan's 
Ford, on the Chickamauga, six or seven miles above Gordon's 
-Mill (southward from it), and covered the line of the creek tor 



452 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

four or five miles. Van Cleve's division was posted at Cra-w- 
fish Springs, about four miles toward the north-west. 

September 16th. — Grose's brigade reconnoitered a few miles 
eastward, in the direction of one of the gaps in Pigeon Mount- 
ains. It found no enemy, but succeeded in capturing some 
]>otatoes, which proved very good eating. 

September 17th, — In the morning, Hazen's pickets on the 
road from Crawfish Springs to Lafayette were ridden over by 
a squad of rebel cavalry (said to be drunk) who penetrated 
nearly to brigade head-quarters, and were there captured. 
Thomas' troops having begun arriving on Crittenden's lines, 
Palmer's division in the afternoon was moved northward, by a 
march of three miles, to within two miles of Crawfish Springs. 
Grose's brigade bivouacked behind some slashed timber, form- 
ing a good cover for its front. 

September 18th. — The movement of the army toward the 
left (the north-east) was continued as secretly as possible. Sev- 
eral companies of the Sixth Ohio on the picket-line became 
engaged in a bitter little skirmish toward evening, and private 
Joseph Ilooth, of Company F, was shot in the head and in- 
stantly killed. Evidences accumulated during the day that 
the rebels were massing heavily in front of the Union left, and 
miles beyond, down the Chickamauga, undoubtedly for the 
purpose of turning that flank and interposing between E,ose- 
crans and Chattanooga. Crittenden was ordered to proceed 
with Palmer's and Van Cleve's divisions to drive the enemy 
from the Rossville road and form on the left of Wood, whose 
position at Gordon's Mill had been heavily threatened at the 
same time that the cavalry and mounted infimtry at Reid's and 
Alexander's bridges (a few miles down the Chickamauga) had 
been forced back by the enemy's advance, fighting stubbornly 
as they retired. 



CHICKAMAUGA. 453 

Starting about midnight on the 18th, Palmer's division 
made a tedious march of five miles, past Crawfish Springs and 
through what seemed almost illimitable forests, and at dawn 
on Saturday, the 19th, found itself in position next on the left 
of Van Cleve and about one mile north of Gordon's Mill. Its 
formation at this hour was the same as at Stone River — Cruft 
on the right, Hazen on the left, and Grose in reserve. For 
a week the troops had lived in an atmosphere of battle, and with 
their guns in their hands; yet few, except the higher officers, 
imagined that the dread issue was so soon to be decided. The 
men were jaded by their night march and previous harass- 
ing service, but were in excellent spirits notwithstanding — full 
of the confidence begotten of trained self-reliance, and brim- 
ming over with the dasliing, half-reckless courage characteristic 
of old and successful campaigners. About 8 A. M., Grose's 
brigade was ordered to make a reconnoissance down the road 
and in the direction of Reid's Mill, to ascertain if the main 
road from Gordon's Mill to Rossville was clear of the enemy, 
and, if practicable, whether Colonel Dan McCook's brigade still 
held Reid's bridge, as it had been reported doing on the even- 
ing before. Threading its way through thick woods, with 
occasional clearings, Grose's command, at the end of two miles, 
reached Baird's division (formerly Rousseau's), which had 
marched all night with the rest of Thomas' corps, and had 
taken position on the Rossville road, while Brannan's division 
(in the main, Thomas' old division) had filed past him and 
formed upon his left, extending the line of battle northward, 
in the direction of Rossville. While the troops were halted 
upon Baird's right, heavy volleys of musketry were heard along 
the front, some distance to the left; but the sound soon died 
away, and the brigade then returned to the division, rejoining 



454 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

it about half-past ten o'clock, without having encountered any 

enemy. 

A mail which had arrived during its absence, was immedi- 
ately distributed, and many of .the Sixth Ohio were bending 
over their newspapers, or stretched in utter weariness on the 
ground, when the roar of artillery broke out hoarsely in the 
direction whence they had just returned, accompanied by heavy 
and continuous musketry firing. Brannan, on the extreme left, 
was hotly engaged, and Baird was becoming involved, as 
Bragg's solid masses swept across the Chickamauga, and, by a 
movement resembling a left wheel of the whole line, carried 
the assault southward, toward Gordon's Mill. All being quiet 
upon his own front, Crittenden ordered Palmer to the support 
of the left, and the division promptly started. It had pro- 
ceeded less than one-third of the distance to the point reached 
by Grose's brigade two hours before, when it came upon the 
enemy in force, pushing steadily forward to envelop Johnson's 
division (of McCook's corps) which was hastily moving into 
position to cover Baird's flank, previously exposed. The divis- 
ion formed rapidly on Johnson's right — Hazen's brigade on 
the left. Graft's next, and Grose's on the right, and, simultane- 
ously, the line was extended still further to the right by a divis- 
ion of Thomas' corps, under General Reynolds — the same who, 
at Elkwater, used pleasantly to call the Sixth Ohio his " sing- 
ing regiment." By one o'clock the Second Division had be- 
come engaged along its entire line, and the Third Brigade was 
rocked in such a tempest of battle as exceeded all its previous 
experiences, not even excepting those of Stone River. 

We can not follow the Army of the Cumberland through all 
the phases of that terrific contest, in which Bragg, by his own 
confession, lost two-fifths of his army, and Rosecrans escaped 
destruction but by a hair's-breadth. The intensity and des- 



CHICKAMAUGA. 455 

peration of the struggle; the splendid fighting of that grand 
old army which was battling greatly superior numbers, and at 
many disadvantages in addition; the undaunted courage of the 
men, who could be overpowered and driven, but never whipped, 
because they would not be ; the shifting of brigade after brigade, 
and division after division, toward the left, which was the vital 
point of the field; the shearing off of seven brigades upon the 
right, and the staggering of the center ; the rock-like firmness 
of General Thomas, commanding the left, whose service was 
nothing less magnificent than saving the army, after Rosecrans 
(upon another part of the field) had given up the day as lost 
and retired to Chattanooga — these are all matters of history, 
to which a simple reference is all that the scope of this volume 
permits. Palmer's division fought under the command of Gen- 
eral Thomas throughout — during the first day, in the position 
before mentioned, and on the second day, in the center of 
Thomas' line, with Johnson and Baird on the left, and Rey- 
nolds and Brannan on the right. Its loss was very heavy, but, 
happily, the Third Brigade escaped with somewhat fewer cas- 
ualties than at Stone River. 

The Sixth Ohio's share in those sanguinary conflicts in the 
woods,- upon the banks of "Dead Man's River,"* is fully 
described in the official reports, and the private letter from 
one of its bravest and most intelligent subalterns, which com- 
plete this chapter. It is impossible to particularize the exam- 
ples of daring and steadfast courage which crowned the lives 
of its Chickamauga slain, and covered with honor the record 
of almost every survivor. Though they were counted by hun- 
dreds, each one is ineffaceably traced on many a comrade's 
memory, and none needs repetition here to lend it newer 

* The word "Chickamauga" is from the Cherokee tongue, in which it 
is said to mean " Dead Man's River." 



456 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

luster.* As near as can be ascertained, the regiment went 
into action on the morning of September 19th with an aggre- 
gate strength of 345, or 23 officers and 322 enlisted men. Of 
this number 12 were killed, 6 mortally wounded, 76 received 
wounds which necessitated their transfer to general hospital, 
and in the majority of cases resulted in permanent disable- 
ment, and 16 were reported missing in action — making a total 
loss of 110. During the battle the regiment expended 27,680 
rounds of ammunition, scores of the men firing more than 150 
rounds each. 

CASUALTIES OF THE SIXTH OHIO. 

Field and Staff. — Wounded — Colonel Anderson, Adjutant 
Throop, and Sergeant-Major Mellen. 

Company A. — Mortally wounded — Corporal Kirkland W. Cow- 
ing and private Frank B. Brown. Wounded — Captain Oilman, 
Corporal John A. Cashing, and private James Harahan. 

*But we need ask no pardon for quoting the following from General 
Crittenden's official report: "It gives me much pleasure to call attention 
to John Atkins, Company D, Second Kentucky Infantry, senior clerk in 
the Assistant Adjutant-General's office, who remained on the field with 
my staff both days, and aided me as much as any one in rallying the 
men. He is a good clerk, well educated, and in every thing competent to 
command, and is deserving of a commission. The same may be said of 
George C. James, private in Company A, Sixth Ohio Infantry, clerk to 
my Chief of Artillery and Topographical Engineer [Captain Mendenhall], 
who, when detailed as a clerk, stipulated that he should be permitted to 
join his regiment when on the march with the prospect of an engage- 
ment. On the march from Murfreesboro' to Manchester he joined his 
regiment; and also from the time of crossing the Tennessee River until 
the termination of the late engagements, in both of which he participated. 
If promotion can not be had in their regiments, some distinguished mark 
of honor should be bestowed on both." 



CHICKAMAUGA. 457 

Company B. — Killed — Corporals Edwin H. Rowe and Philip 
B. Helfenbein, and private Richard R.. Allen. Mortally wounded — 
Private John Aufderheide. Wounded — Captain Montagnier, Cor- 
poral Lewis N. Kibby, and privates David Schreiber, James War- 
ren, and James Mitchell. Missing — First Lieutenant Holmes and 
private John A. Ziegler. (Private Adam Rohe was also captured 
the day before the battle.) 

Company C. — Wounded — Corporal John C. Heiferman, and 
privates William A. Baldwin, Edmund Luthy, and Antoine 
Brown. Missing — Private Jos. T. Fox. 

Company D. — Killed — Sergeant James F. McGregor and pri- 
vate George K. Kopp. Mortally wounded — Private Samuel W. 
Stephenson. Wounded — Privates Frederick H. Bastian. August 
Bristol, Reinhold Hoffman, Michael Renner, Wm. F. Dill, Frank 
A. Manns, and Frederick Soghan. 

Company E. — Killed — Private Robert E. Tuxworth. Mortally 
wounded — Corporal Benj. F. Terry (color-guard). Wounded — 
Corporal Alex. Rigler, and privates Charles Eckhardt, Jos. E. 
Lougenbach, Anthony W. Bowen, Reuben D. Burgess, Miles 
Blake, Horatio Tucker, Abram A. Truesdale, and John Fisher. 
Missing — Privates Nelson A. Britt (died in rebel prison) and 
John Paul Robenstein. 

Company F. — Killed — Privates Joseph Hooth and James H. 
Deans. Wounded — Sergeant Wra. E. Jackson, Corporals Freder- 
ick Linenbrink, Milton Limebach, and James Wood, and privates 
Henry Leonard, David Downey, George Hoffman, William Kes- 
semeier, John Linceman, Seth G. Perkins, Stuart Terwilliger, 
Frederick Taphorn, Clement Theising, Anthony Schaffer, Charles 
Young, and James Yost. Missing — Private James Lafever and 
Musician Wm. Young. 

Company G. — Killed — Private John Huddlestone. Wounded — 
Second Lieutenant Cormany, Corporal Wm. A. Clark, and privates 
Wm. H. Service, John H. Loskam, Joseph Long, Joseph Katch- 
ing, James A. Taylor, Andrew Kellar, and Wm. H. Sturgis. 



458 



THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 



Missing — First Sergeant Abraham Gr. Price and private John 
Singer (died in rebel prison). 

Company H. — Mortally imunded — Private John Christ. Wound- 
ed — Captain Tinker, Corporal Frank D. Wentworth, and privates 
James F. Attee, Richard Thompson, George W. Whistler, and 
August Friday. Missing — Privates Charles Schuster, Michael 
Manley, and William C. Allen (wounded). 

Company I. — Killed — Private Daniel E. McCarty. Wounded — 
Captain Bense, Sergeant Ferdinand McDonough, Corporals George 
S. La Rue, and William Crawford, and privates Newton Buckuell, 
August Grass, William Yager, and Christ. Kohli. Missing — Pri- 
vates James Carson and William Maygaffoygan. 

Company K. — Killed — Sergeant John A. Osling (color-bearer) 
and Corporal Henry F. Funk. Wounded — Corporals Nehemiab 
V. Pennington and William Gain, and privates Christ. Albert, 
Wm. T. Goodwin, Frederick Wehking, and Theodore Ortman. 
Missing — Privates Wm. A. Lohn and Lorenz Huber. 

RECAPITULATION. 







o 
P 


9 


o 
p 

p 


o 
P 

p 


o 
p 


o 
P 


o 
p 





p 






M 


9 





Killed 






•A 


4 

.1 

5 


2 
1 

7 

"io 


1 

1 

9 

2 

13 


2 

16 

2 

20 


1 
"9 

2 
12 


i 

6 

3 

10 


1 

8 

2 

11 


2 

6 

2 

10 


^•^ 


Mortally wound'd. 

Wounded 

MissinjT 


3 


2 
3 


1 

5 

2 

11 


6 
76 
Ifi 


Total 


3 


5 


110 



J 



MAJOR ERWIN'S OFFICIAL REPORT. 

Camp of the Sixth Ohio Volunteees, 
Near Chattanooga, Tenn., September 27, 1863. 

Colonel Wm. Grose, commanding Third Brigade — 

Colonel: I have the honor to submit the following report of 

the part taken by the Sixth Ohio Volunteers in the recent battle 

of "Missionary Ridge" [Chiekaraauga]. On the morning of the 

18th inst. the effective force of the regiment was 23 officers and 



CHICKAMAUGA. 459 

324 enlisted men. On the evening of that day, while on outpost 
duty, private Hooth, of Captain Thatcher's company, was shot by 
the enemy's pickets, and instantly killed. On the morning of 
Saturday, the 19th, after returning from a reconnoissance made by 
the brigade under your personal direction [and also after the 
division had moved to Baird's support], we were posted in the 
second line of the brigade, two, or perhaps more, of the right 
companies extending beyond our front line — the right company 
detached and posted on the right of Cushing's battery. "We had 
been thus placed but a short time when the engagement began, 
and soon became geueraL The enemy pushing toward our right, 
our regiment was extended in that direction, and all were hotly 
engaged at once. The loss of our regiment here was quite severe. 
Captain Grilman, Adjutant Throop, and Sergeant-Major Mellen 
were all severely wounded. 

We held our position until the enemy was repulsed, when, our 
ammunition being entirely exhausted, we retired, by order of Gen- 
eral Palmer, across the road to the rear of the Seventeenth In- 
diana Battery, to get, a fresh supply of ammunition. Having 
received it, we were moving in order to rejoin the brigade, when 
the troops in our front and on our right gave way in confusion, 
and the enemy made a dash for the battery, which had been 
placed in reserve, and was without infantry supports. We imme- 
diately formed in the rear of the battery for its defense, under as 
hot a fire of musketry as I ever saw. The enemy, in front, were 
held in check by a furious discharge of grape and canister from the 
artillery, but in a few minutes gained our right flank, and from 
thence poured in a destructive fire. We theii changed front to 
the rear on tenth company, and held them while five of the six 
guns were safely retired, when we fell back through the woods in 
rear of Brannan's division [which, late in the day, was transferred 
from its original position on the extreme left to the support of 
Reynolds]. We came out on the Rossville road at a point where 
Cushing's battery was stationed, and from there reported to you 



460 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

and rejoined the brigade. Our loss in this fight was heavy. 
Colonel Anderson was struck by a musket-ball in the shoulder 
and severely wounded. Captain Tinker fell mortally wounded,* 
and Captain Montagnier was shot through both legs. Lieutenant 
Holmes was missed here, and I fear is either dead, or wounded 
and a prisoner. f The behavior of all these ofl&cers was above all 
praise. Night having now fallen, and the fight ceased. Colonel 
Anderson, for the first time, retired to have his wound dressed, 
when it was found to be of such a nature as to preclude the pos- 
sibility of his remaining longer on the field, and he was sent to 
the rear, the command of the regiment then devolving upon me. 
Early on the morning of the 20th we were employed, under 
your direction, in constructing defenses on an eminence east of 
the Rossville road, and nearly parallel with the latter in an open 
wood. These were nearly completed, when they were occupied 
by other troops (whose I do not know), and we were retired and 
placed in reserve. The brigade being in two lines, my regiment 
was in the second line, formed in double column at full distance, 
on the right of the Thirty-sixth Indiana, which was formed in 
like manner, and in rear of the Eighty-fourth Illinois, deployed 
in line of battle. We rested here about half an hour, when we 
were moved to the left and formed at nearly right angles with our 
former position, and facing a little east of north in a corn-field 
just east of the Rossville road. We were on the extreme left of 
the brigade, with the Twenty-fourth Ohio on our right. The 

* Captain Tinker was shot through both legs, near the knees, and, in 
terrible suffering, was removed to the field hospital of the division, which 
the shifting of the lines next morning made it necessary to abandon. 
He was left in a dying condition, as was supposed (with not more than 
twenty minutes to live, the surgeon said) ; but about ten days afterward, 
as we shall see, was brought back to the Union lines, a paroled prisoner. 
Uis old comrades greeted him almost as one risen from the dead. 

t Lieutenant Holmes, after conspicuous gallantry, was surrounded and 
captured, and sent to Richmond. 



CHICKAMAUGA. 461 

enemy, attempting to turn our left, were delivering a sharp fire 
in front of our position, when our batteries in the field opened 
upon them (as I now suppose, though at the time I thought they 
mistook my regiment for rebels), but, firing too low, killed and 
wounded numbers of my men and ofiicers — among them Captain 
Bense, senior captain and acting major, and Lieutenant Cormany. 
It was a trying position — the enemy's fire in front and our own 
from the rear, and more danger in retiring than remaining. 

At length the firing of the battery ceased, and I moved my 
regiment by the right flank to a little hollow, near which we re- 
formed, and were then placed on the right of the Twenty-fourth 
Ohio, and between that regiment and the Regular brigade, my 
left a little retired from the direction of my former line, and a 
portion of my front covered by one of the regiments of our owu 
brigade. We here met the full force of the enemy's advancing 
columns, and were forced back in some confusion, but rallied and 
drove the enemy. The pursuit was broken and irregular on the 
part of all our troops, who inflicted severe punishment on the 
flying rebels. My regiment became divided, and, in returning, a 
portion of it, with some of my officers, got to the west side of the 
Rossville road, and for some time were separated from me. On 
our return from the pursuit, I reformed on the right of a portion 
of the Sixteenth Regulars, at the breastwork to the right of my 
last position. Here was also a portion of the Eighty-fourth Illi- 
nois, under one of its captains, and a few of the Twenty-fourth 
Ohio, with Lieutenant Kise and the colors of their regiment. 
We remained there until the brigade was reformed under your 
direction, and moved to the right in support of Reynolds' troops; 
and although under fire, more or less, all the time until retired 
from the field, we were not again actively engaged. We retired 
in good order, under a heavy cross-fire of the enemy's artillery 
(losing but one man, however), and encamped with the brigade at 
Rossville. 

With a single exception, the behavior"~of my officers was all 



462 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

that could be desired. I would especially mention Captain Bense, 
acting major, Captains Thatcher and Russell, and Lieutenants 
Irwin, Choate, and Glisan, whose gallantry was conspicuous. 
Among the non-commissioned officers and privates examples of 
gallant conduct were very numerous, but limited space forbids 
their mention except in general terms. During the whole of the 
two days' fighting the men suffered severely from the want of 
water. I am happy to be able to report my regiment in fine con- 
dition and good spirits. I annex herewith a statement in detail 
of the casualties in my command. 

I have the honor to be, etc., 

S. C. ERWIN, 
Major Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry^ Commanding Regiment 



AN OFFICER'S LETTER. 

Casip at Cuattaxooga, Tenn., November 6, 1863. 
My Dear Father: .... Now for a description of our 
part in the battle of Chickamauga. On the 18th of September 
our regiment had a severe skirmish with the enemy near Crawfish 
Springs, losing one man killed and another wounded, but holding 
our ground until reeuforeements came up. About twelve o'clock 
that night we started and marched until morning, when we reached 
a position to the left of Wood's division on the Chickamauga, 
Here we made coffee and got a few minutes' rest, after which our 
brigade was ordered to make a reconnoissance, which was done, but 
without finding the rebels in force very near us. About 9 A. M. 
we came across Baird's division, and were about to return when 
a heavy musketry fire was opened in the direction of his advanced 
brigade [then attacking and driving a detachment of the enemy 
which had crossed the Chickamauga a short distance above Reid's 
bridge]. Our brigade was formed in line, ready to assist him if 
necessary; but the firing subsiding, we retraced our steps toward our 
own division. On our way back we met great numbers of Thomas' 



CHICKAMAUGA. 463 

troops going to the left, and wondered what it meant. We had 
scarcely retaken our places with the division, when we were or- 
dered back to the left. Our brigade was formed in two lines — 
our right resting on Reynolds' division, and our left on Cruft's 
brigade; the Twenty-fourth Ohio and Thirty-sixth Indiana form- 
ing the first line, the Twenty-third Kentucky and Eighty-fourth 
Illinois the second, and our regiment as reserve behind the 
battery. 

The first line had been engaged but a few minutes, when the 
rebels began flanking us on the right, and the Sixth Ohio, with 
the battery, was ordered to extend the front line in that direc- 
tion. As soon as we were formed, as indicated, (with the Thirty- 
sixth Indiana on our left and the battery upon our right), the 
rebels made their appearance, advancing against us in two columns. 
The battery promptly opened with canister; at the same time our 
regiment met them with such deadly volleys that they were soon 
driven from the field. They returned, but with no better success 
than before. The regiment remained some time after all its am- 
munition was expended, and, on being relieved by another one, 
was complimented by General Palmer for its gallantry and stead- 
iness. By him we were ordered to a position in the rear of the 
Nineteenth Indiana Battery, where we could get ammunition, and, 
having refilled our cartridge-boxes, were again ready for action. 

General Reynolds was at the battery, and, as Colonel Anderson 
moved our regiment to re-occupy its original position, he asked 
the colonel to remain and support it, but Anderson replied that 
his orders required him to report again to General Palmer, and we 
kept on. Reynolds said he feared he would lose the battery, as 
it was entirely unsupported, and all his own regiments were in 
action. We had just entered the woods on our way back to the 
first line, when we saw our troops giving way; and one of Rey- 
nolds' aids just then galloping up to the colonel, and begging him 
to come and save the battery, the regiment was about faced, and 
double-quicked back. Before we got fairly into position, the bat- 



464 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

tery became engaged, and I saw tlie rebels advancing upon it, in 
four columns. The men at the guns worked well, but fired some- 
what too high. I watched the cannoneers and horses fall, picked 
off one by one by the unerring shots of rebel sharpshooters, and 
saw that, as the regiments on our right were broken, there was 
nothing to prevent us from being flanked. The last round of shot 
was fired, and we heard the command, " Limber to the front ! " 
but still we lay there, determined to save those guns. The rebels 
had nearly surrounded us, but the battery — all except one piece — 
was safely retreating, when we received the order to raise and fire. 
We did so, and checked the charging enemy for a short minute, 
and then "changed front to the rear on tenth company," and fired 
a volley in that direction. We were now flanked on both sides, 
while the rebels were bearing down upon us in front. Things looked 
desperate, and I began to think of Libby. Reynolds, who still 
remained with us, had his horse shot under him, and at last or- 
dered us to retreat double-quick. 

As soon as we got out of this box, we reformed behind a rail 
fence, and soon afterward were joined by the Ninth Indiana, a 
splendid fighting regiment, from our own division. Reynolds then 
ordered us forward, and forward we went in fine style, assisted by 
the Ninth Indiana. Our advance was short, however, for we no 
sooner cleared a little stretch of woodland than we were met by a 
most murderous fire from both flank and front, and were obliged 
to fall back in some confusion. Rallying, however, as soon as we 
could, we fell back slowly, firing at every step. Here our loss was 
heavy — many privates killed and wounded, Colonel Anderson, Cap- 
tain Tinker (my captain), and Captain Montagnier wounded, and 
Lieutenant Holmes captured. It was now nearly dark. We were 
relieved by Jeff. C. Davis' division (which had arrived not long 
before), received General Reynolds' thanks for what we had done,* 

*In a private manuscript, General Reynolds says: "During the first 
day of the battle of Chickamauga, I met the Sixth Ohio retiring in some 
disorder from an overwhelming force of rebels. Colonel Anderson, al- 



CHICKAMAUGA. 465 

and by his orders then reported to our own division, which we 
found badly used up. How we suflFered that night no one knows. 
Water could not be found ; the rebels had possession of the Chick- 
amauga, and we had to do without. Few of us had blankets, and 
the night was very cold. All looked with anxiety for the coming 
of dawn ; for although we had given the enemy a rough handling, 
he had certainly used us very hard. 

At last morning came, and found us all standing to arras, ready 
for whatever might happen. About six o'clock, Rosecrans made 
his appearance riding along the line, and looking worn and very 
weary. "Fight to-day," he said, "as well as you did yesterday, 
and we shall whip them! " I did not like the way he looked, but 
of course felt cheered, and did not allow myself to think of any 
such thing as defeat. About half an hour later our brigade was 
moved a little to the right and front of the position we had occu- 
pied during the night, and ordered to throw up log breastworks 
as quick as possible, which we did, with heavy skirmishing close 
in front and an occasional shell to remind us of our danger. By 
dint of an hour and a half of hard work, we had succeeded in 
throwing up very nice works, when we were "superseded" by an- 
other brigade, and ordered out into an open field on our left. Be- 
ing intended as a reserve, wc formed on the second line, but, alas! 
were hardly in position before the rebels recommenced the attack, 
and we were ordered still further to the left, where we formed' 
under a hot fire of musketry, in the rear of the Eighteenth Reg- 

though wounded in the arm, was gallantly rallying his regiment, aided by 
the officers (many of whom I can not personally recollect, but conspicuous- 
among them was Major Erwin, who was subsequently killed at Mission 
Ridge.) The officers and men recognized me at once. I had seen them, 
slowly retiring from the woods on my front, and, not knowing what, 
troops they were, had already chosen a rallying point for them near my 
batteries. The position was pointed out, and they reformed with great 
promptness, and, resuming offensive operations, manfully performed their 
part in that memorable battle throughout this and the following day." 

30 



466 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

ulars. The rebels came on in four columns, in splendid style, 
thouo-h our artillery was doing terrible execution upon them. But 
as one gray Hue would go down, another would be thrown forward 
in its place, so that, notwithstanding they fought well, the Regu- 
lars were overpowered. Our brigade was then ordered to advance, 
and, simultaneously, a battery of 2-1-pound Napoleons got a cross- 
fire on the rebels, and poured such a storm of canister into their 
ranks that they had to fall back, badly cut up. 

Our brigade was again moved, and formed a little to the right 
of a wooded hill (somewhat in advance of it) with the road be- 
tween us and it. There were woods on most of our front, and 
through them the Eighty-fourth Illinois was deployed in line of 
battle; their right connecting with the line formed by the Eight- 
eenth Regulars and Cruft's and Hazen's brigades, which line was 
almost at right angles with ours. Being the left of the regiment, 
my company was placed at the road. I walked forward a little, 
to reconnoiter our surroundings, and to my astonishment saw the 
rebels forming scarcely two hundred yards from us, on our imme- 
diate front. I counted four columns of them, and saw two gen- 
erals riding along the lines encouraging the men. I immediately 
returned, found our brigade commander, and reported the condition 
of affairs ; but he said they were our troops, and I could not con- 
vince him to the contrary ; he said they must be our troops, be- 
cause there was at least one line ahead of ours. I went back to 
my company and detailed two men — splendid shots, both of them — 
to go forward, and, if possible, pick off the officers that I had seen 
riding up and down the rebel lines. About ten minutes afterward. 
Colonel Grose ordered two of Lieutenant Cushing's guns to the 
road (on the left of our regiment), and the rebels opening a battery 
upon us simultaneously, the firing became brisk. Another battery 
to the rear of our line got excited, and began playing upon us with 
canister, apparently mistaking us for the enemy. AVe were thus 
under a heavy fire from both the front and rear, and naturally 
hugged Mother Earth very closely. This was the hottest place 



CHICKAMAUGA. 467 

your humble servant was ever in. The battery continued to play 
on us, notwithstanding our color-bearers bravely rose up and 
waved our flags to show the artillerists who we were; and it was 
not until Major Erwin sent back one of the men upon his horse 
that the firing ceased. During this cannonading we lost a num- 
ber of men and officers, including Captain Bense and Lieutenant 
Cormany wounded. Our regiment was much demoralized by this ; 
they said they could stand the rebel fire, but when it came to being 
shot by our own men, it was played out. 

After this we were again moved, this time nearer the breast- 
works, and another regiment took our place. It was now about 
half an hour since I had seen the rebels forming on our front, 
and I expected every minute to see them come on a charge 
through the woods ; and as we got into position, sure enough 
they began the advance, coming up furiously, four lines deep. 
The regulars were driven back pell-mell, and we waited for the 
troops said to be in front of us to fall back, but in vain — there 
were none there. Tramp, tramp, tramp, we heard a heavy body 
of troops come marching through the underbrush and leaves, but 
nothing could be seen, until suddenly a gray line burst into view, 
and, before we were aware of it, fired into us a terrific volley. 
Fortunately we were lying down at the time, so that few were 
hurt. Then began the game in real earnest, the two lines 
scarcely fifty yards apart, and each firing as fast as possible. But 
how long could our single weak line stand against four solid columns? 
We were compelled to fall back, and did so in some confusion. 

It was now after twelve o'clock. In falling back, my company be- 
came separated from the others, but as soon as we were out of range, 
I formed what I had left, and started to find the regiment. It was 
like looking for a needle in a hay-stack — nothing was known of it. 
However, I found Colonel Waters, who had been cut oflF from the 
brigade with a fragment of his regiment, and reported to him, 
forming my company on the left of his detachment, which com- 
prised about fifty men. [See the official report of Colonel Grose.] 



468 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

Colonel Waters formed with a brigade which had not yet been 
engaged ; the rebels were still driving our men, and in a short time 
we were again in action. We fought for a few minutes, and, as 
yet, were holding our own, when up came a brigade of the Reserve 
Corps and relieved us, whereupon we were ordered to fall back, and 
soon joined the retreating columns of what seemed to be our whole 
army. By this time it was nearly four o'clock. We had not eaten 
any thing since early in the morning, and had been without water 
all day. The rebels drew oif about the same time that we did. If 
this Sunday evening we had only had two divisions of fresh troops, 
what a splendid victory would have been won ! 

"Oh, that we now had here 

But one ten thousand of those men in England 

That do not work to-day !" 

We retired to Rossville that night, where I rejoined what was 
left of the regiment — about one hundred and fifty men — and, with 
the army, remained in line of battle on Mission Ridge all next 
day, and on Monday night fell back within our lines at Chatta- 
nooga Among those who fought with great gal- 
lantry, I noticed several negroes belonging to various regiments of 
our brigade, who were at the front continually. On Saturday I 
captured two rebels who were reeling drunk. In fact, I believe all 

the rebels had whisky in their canteens I have 

given you a rather crudely-digested description of the battle, I 
know ; but we are so very busy that I have to write at nights, 
and piecemeal at that. Please excuse mistakes. 



COLONEL GROSE'S OFFICIAL REPORT. 

Head-quarters Third Brigade, Second Division, Twenty-first ) 
Army Coups, in Casip at Chattanooga, Tenn., Sept. 27, 1863. ) 

Major- General J. M. Palmer, Commanding Second Division — 

Sir : I have the honor to make the following report of the part 
this brigade took in the recent engagements with the enemy. I. 



CHICKAMAUGA. 469 

crossed the Tennessee River at the mouth of Battle Creek on the 
night of the 3d of September, by means of log-rafts, sending most 
of my train by the way of Bridgeport, six miles below, to cross on 
the bridge. I passed over without loss of either men or property. 
My command consisted of the Sixth Ohio, Colonel N. L. Anderson ; 
Eighty-fourth Illinois, Colonel L. H. Waters ; Twenty-fourth Ohio, 
Colonel D. J. Higglns; Thirty-sixth Indiana, Lieutenant-Colonel 
0. H. P. Carey ; Twenty-third Kentucky, Lieutenant-Colonel Jas. 
C. Foy — aggregate of officers and men, including staff, one thou- 
sand six hundred and eighty-seven. To the above were attached 
Batteries H and M, Fourth United States Artillery, commanded 
by Lieutenants Gushing and Russell (ten pieces). In conjunction 
with the division we marched to Shell Mound, thence to Squirrel 
Town Creek, and thence to Lookout Valley. On the morning of 
the 9th inst., with the Twenty-fourth Ohio, Twenty-third Ken- 
tucky, and Eighty-fourth Illinois, I ascended, or rather climbed up, 
Lookout Mountain, near Hawkins' farm, nine miles to the right 
of Chattanooga, and met and drove the enemy from the mountain 
without sustaining any loss. The enemy left the mountain by a 
north-east course, via Summertown. Cavalry was all that I found 
on the summit. As I reached the point of the mountain over- 
looking Chattanooga, the remainder of my brigade, with the First 
Brigade, General Cruft, and General Wood's division, were enter- 
ing the city. I may here notice Captain Isaac N. Dryden and his 
company, of the Twenty-fourth Ohio, for daring bravery in the 
advance, in ascending the mountain and driving and punishing the 
enemy. Subsequently the brigade had light but successful skir- 
mishing near Graysville and Ringgold, and on Chickamauga 
Creek, and also made a reconnoissance from the latter to Worthen's 
farm at a pass in Pigeon Mountain. 

On the morning of the 10th inst., I was directed to make a 
reconnoissance below Lee & Gordon's Mill, on Chickamauga Creek, 
which I did, and found the enemy in force ; and, on receiving 
your orders, afterward withdrew the brigade, joined the column, 



470 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

and witli it advanced upon the enemy, moving into an open wood- 
land to the right of the road leading toward Chattanooga. My 
position happened to be on a small elevation, with General Cruft's 
brigade on my left and General Reynolds' division on my right. 
We met the enemy's lines about eleven o'clock. My brigade was 
formed in double lines — the Twenty-fourth Ohio, Colonel Higgins, 
and the Twenty-third Kentucky, Lieutenant-Colonel Foy, in the 
front line ; the Thirty-sixth Indiana, Lieutenant-Colonel Carey, 
and the Eighty-fourth Illinois, Colonel Waters, in the rear line ; 
and the Sixth Ohio, Colonel Anderson, in reserve. Very soon 
after my front line met the enemy, the troops on the right of my 
brigade gave way, upon which the Thirty-sixth Indiana was im- 
mediately changed to the right to defend that flank. In a very 
few minutes the enemy passed so far around my right toward the 
rear that the Sixth Ohio, as well as the Thirty-sixth Indiana, 
Twenty-fourth Ohio, and Twenty-third Kentucky, were all des- 
perately engaged, and so continued for two long hours. Here oc- 
curred the best fighting and least falling out of ranks (excepting 
the killed and wounded) that I ever witnessed. The ammunition 
of these four regiments finally gave out, and there being none at 
hand (bad luck !) they had to be retired. Now was the time for 
the Eighty-fourth Illinois to come into the breach. The colonel 
changed front to the right, and with his brave regiment contested 
every inch of ground until compelled to give way before over- 
whelming numbers. The enemy having reached what was then his 
right flank — formerly our rear — all were retired in tolerably good 
order, which ended my fighting for the day. General Cruft's 
brigade, which had not yet exhausted its ammunition nor been 
seriously engaged, now changed front to the enemy, engaged him, 
and came ofi" masters of that part of the field. 

The ensuing night we laid upon our arms without water or rest, 
and, though the fatigues had been great, yet there was more to 
endure upon the coming day. Ammunition replenished, we were 
again in position for the fearful labors that awaited us on the Holy 



CHICKAMAUGA. 471 

Sabbath, early on which day I was ordered to take position on the 
right of General Hazen's brigade, on the right of our division, 
which was done, and each regiment quickly threw before it bar- 
ricades of logs, and such material as could readily be obtained. 
Before the action on our part of the line commenced, however, one 
of my regiments, the Twenty-third Kentucky, had been loaned to 
Qeueral Hazen to fill out his lines, and with the other four, at 
about nine o'clock, I was ordered to the left of General Baird's 
division to strengthen that flank. Before we reached the intended 
position in the line, the enemy came upon General Baird's division, 
and consequently upon my command, in fearful numbers. I 
formed the four regiments, under a destructive fire from the 
enemy, in a woodland fronting the north, and at right angles with 
the main line of battle — the Thirty-sixth Indiana and Eighty- 
fourth Illinois in the front line, and the Sixth and Twenty-fourth 
Ohio in the second line. Thus formed we met the enemy, and had 
a desperate struggle, with fearful loss to both sides. The brigade 
advanced and was repulsed, advanced a second time and was again 
repulsed, and, with some forces that now came to our assistance, 
advanced the third time and held the woodland. In this contest 
for mastery over the woodland fell many of my best and bravest 
officers and men — the dead and dying of both armies mingled to- 
gether over this bloody field. Here I parted with many of my 
comrades in arms forever (particularly old mess-mates of the 
Thirty-sixth Indiana), whose remains I was unable to remove from 
the field. In the conflict and amid the shifting scenes of battle, 
Colonel Waters, of the Eighty-fourth Illinois, with a part of his 
regiment, became detached from the brigade, and on the west of 
the road became intermingled with the division of General Ncgley, 
who, it seems, shortly after ordered that portion of Colonel 
Waters' regiment, with at least a portion of his own command, 
toward Chattanooga, on the pretext of sending that of Colonel 
Waters as train-guard, for particulars of which reference is made 
to the report of Colonel Waters. The residue of the Eighty-fourth 



472 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

Illinois regiment, under command of Captain Ervin, of Company 
C, with Lieutenants McLain, Scoggan, and Logue, with parts of 
four companies, remained with the brigade, and forming on the left 
of the Thirty-sixth Indiana, did efficient and good service. Cap- 
tain Ervin deserves notice for coolness and bravery during this 
fight, as also do the lieutenants above-named. 

After the fighting had ceased, and with seeming success to our 
arms on this portion of the line, at about one o'clock P. M., I 
withdrew the Thirty-sixth Indiana, Sixth and Twenty-fourth Ohio, 
with that portion of the Eighty-fourth Illinois, under command of 
Captain Ervin, to near the position we had taken in the forenoon, 
near the right of General Hazen's brigade, and put my men in 
position to rest, and to await further developments. The Twenty- 
third Kentucky had remained with General Hazen, at that point, 
where I had left it in the morning. The enemy's sharpshooters 
and occasional cannonading meantime kept up amusement for us. 
It was here, near by me, that Colonel King, of the Sixty-eighth 
Indiana, fell a victim to the aim of a sharpshooter. In these two 
days my command took a considerable number of prisoners, and 
sent them to the rear. Among them was Captain E. B. Sayers, 
Chief Engineer of General Polk's corps, who surrendered to me in 
person, was put in charge of Lieutenant Scott, my Engineer, and 
sent back to General Thomas' corps hospital. Sayers was one of 
the Camp Jackson prisoners, and formerly a citizen of St. Louis. 
I presume that many of the prisoners taken on Sunday escaped. 

About four o'clock a rebel deserter came in and informed us 
that Breckinridge's division was advancing toward the point where 
we had been in such deadly strife during the forepart of the day ; 
which statement was soon verified by the roar of artillery and 
small arms in that direction, again moving upon Johnson's and 
Baird's shattered divisions. About the same time a heavy force 
of the enemy commenced an attack to our right and rear from 
toward Lee and Gordon's Jlill, and from the direction we had 
come in the morning, and, opening the most terrific cannonading 



CHTCKAMAUGA. 473 

I had heard during these battles, in a few moments completely 
enfiladed our entire rear. At fifteen minutes before five o'clock, 
Lieutenant Thomas, General Palmer's aid, brought me an order 
to retire my command, but which way or where to retire was not 
an easy question to solve. The enemy were fast approaching from 
the right and left toward our rear, their artillery fire meeting in 
our ranks. I immediately sent ordei's, however, to the regiments 
with me to retire across the farm to our rear, passing to the right 
of the farm-house, in the following order: Sixth Ohio, Thirty-sixth 
Indiana, and that portion of the Eighty-fourth Illinois with me, and 
the Twenty-third Kentucky, to bring up the rear. Portions of the 
Twenty-fourth Ohio were with each of those regiments. My artil- 
lery had been retired to the west of the farm. The forces that were 
to my left when I was thus faced about, had to retire further to my 
right and cross the farm further north. When I commenced the 
movement, it seemed evident that my small command would be 
swept away by the artillery fire of the enemy. To prevent break- 
ing of ranks, or any further panic, and to indicate to the men that 
this was a time for coolness and " steady habits " — with Lieuten- 
ant Boice, one of my aids-de-camp, who carried the brigade flag 
at my side — I rode on the left of the front regiment, and on the 
side from which the enemy's severest fire emanated, until we passed 
the ordeal of danger. As soon as we were beyond the point of 
greatest danger, I halted the two front regiments, the Sixth Ohio 
and Thirty-sixth Indiana, and into line faced them to the rear, to 
defend and cover the retreat. This was done coolly and deliber- 
ately. General Palmer was here to consult with me and give 
directions. Here was the last I saw of Captain J. R. Muhleman, 
assistant adjutant-general of the division, and I presume he fell 
near this place, for we were yet under a sharp fire. As soon as all 
were closed up, and had passed this line, I retired the force about 
one-half a mile, across another farm, asc6nded a high wooded hill, 
and reformed faced as before, but out of the range of the enemy's 
fire. It was now dusk. Meeting General Cruft with his brigade 



474 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. ^ 

here, we consulted together with the division commander, and re- 
tired to Rossville, about four or five miles distant, on the Chatta- 
nooga road, and there rested for the night. It is due that I men- 
tion in this place an act of great bravery performed by my aid, 
Lieutenant Boice. After we had passed over the first farm, fear- 
ing that my orders to Captain Ervin, of the Eighty-fourth Illinois, 
had not been definitely understood, and that he with his command 
might be left behind and lost, I directed Lieutenant Boice to re- 
turn again over the field of death and see that the captain was 
coming with his command. The direction was promptly obeyed, 
and the lieutenant made the trip and returned unharmed. My 
fears for his safety were inexpressibly relieved when I saw him 
return. For this and similar efficient service, during all these 
battles, Lieutenant Boice deserves the most favorable notice. la 
the position assigned me, with my command, on the 21st, at and 
near Rossville, although I did no fighting and a better situation 
could have not been given me, I lost one man killed and one 
wounded from the enemy's artillery. From thence we withdrew to 
our present position without further harm. 

Lieutenant Russell, in command of Company M, Fourth United 
States Artillery, on Saturday, the 19th, was placed in position iu 
the center of my front line, and did efi"ective work. On Sunday 
he, as well as Lieutenant Gushing, commanding Company H, 
Fourth United States Artillery, played a heavy part on the 
enemy's columns. Although they look like mere boys, yet, for 
bravery and efi"ective service, these, lieutenants are not excelled, if 
equaled, in efficiency by any artillerists in the army. They have 
the credit of being in the last of the fighting, and then retiring 
all with the loss of but one piece (Lieutenant Cushing's) that had 
become disabled. Colonel Waters and his brave regiment deserve 
great credit for the manner in which the one commanded, and the 
other performed, the perilous duties devolving upon them during 
the battle. 

The brave Colonel Nick Anderson, with his regiment, the Sixth 



CHICKAJIAUGA. 475 

Ohio, performed an officer's whole duty up to the evening of the 
19th, when, having been severely wounded during that day, he 
was compelled to be relieved. The command of that regiment 
thereupon devolved upon Major Erwin, who discharged his duties 
in a highly satisfactory manner throughout. Lieutenant-Colonel 
Carey, Thirty-sixth Indiana, brave to the last, received a severe 
wound during the battle on the 19th, and was succeeded in com- 
mand by Major Trusler, who deserves a high meed of praise for 
continuing the good managemept of the regiment. The country 
will remember the brave old Thirty-sixth when these trying times 
are over. Lieutenant-Colonel Foy and the Twenty-third Ken- 
tucky, side by side with their comrades and brothers in arms 
from Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, did their duty well. Colonel 
Higgins* and the Twenty-fourth Ohio can boast of as brave and 
dutiful officers and men as can be found in any army. Captain 
George M. Graves, my assistant adjutant-general, a brave and good 
officer, fell by my side, mortally wounded, on the 19th, while ren- 
dering efficient service, and has since died. Isaac Bigelow and 
George Shirk, two of my orderlies, were wounded on the 20th, 
the latter mortally. He was carrying the brigade flag when he 
fell. Corporal Dossey Lennin, of Company I, Twenty-fourth 
Ohio, seeing the flag fall, rushed to rescue it, and bore it off of 
the field, as he did his own regimental colors on two occasions the 
day before. Such bravery and high bearing as this is highly de- 
serving the notice of the appointing power. My grateful thanks 
are due to the brave officers and men of the brigade for their noble 
conduct throughout these trying scenes. 

My staff officers, Captain Brooks, inspector ; Lieutenant Scott, 
topographical engineer ; Lieutenant Livzey, aid-de-camp ; Major 
Kersey, medical director ; Captain Peden, provost marshal, to- 
gether with those heretofore mentioned, and also my non-com- 
missioned staff, have my grateful acknowledgements for their kind 

* •' Colonel Higgins and Major T. M. McClure were dismissed the ser- 
vice for bad conduct in this action" [Chickamauga]. — Ohio in the War. 



476 



THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 



and efficient help during these laborious battles. Many officers 
and men of my command, whom it is impossible to refer to spe- 
cially, are equally deserving with the best of soldiers. The pa- 
triots, Captain Adams, Eighty-fourth Illinois ; Captain Tinker, 
Sixth Ohio; Captain Wadsworth, Twenty-fourth Ohio ; Lieutenant 
Patterson, Thirty-sixth Indiana; Lieutenant Hoffman, Twenty- 
third Kentucky, with fifty-seven enlisted men, fell bravely on 
those battle-fields, sacrifices upon their country's altar. My heart 
bleeds to contemplate these irreparable losses. And for the suf- 
fering wounded, may the God of battles soothe their afflictions, 
heal them speedily, and restore them again to usefulness ! 

The following table shows the casualties of the brigade as near 
as it is possible to ascertain them at the present time : 





Command. 


Killed. 


Wounded. 


Mis'ing. 


Total. 


> 

TO 


Commander. 


o 

o 

B 
5 




o 



2 
3 


a' 

p. 


Q 
O 

3 
3 
s 


D 

35' 
p- 


9 

3 

2 




3 
1 


Col Wui (irose 


Head-quarters 

3(Jth Ind. Vols 

24th Ohio Vols... 

6th Ohio Vols 

84th HI. Vols 

23d Ky. Vols 

Bat.M;4thU.S. A. 
Bat.H,4thl/. S.A. 


1 

1 

'""i 
1 

.5 






3 
89 
57 
94 
81 
49 

6 
16 


""l 


"17 

16 

16 

9 

6 


1 
9 

9 
3 
4 


•J 

119 

76 

123 

102 

65 

S 

21 

517 


4 


Lt.-Col. Carey... 

Col. Higgins 

Col. Anderson .. 

Col. Waters 

Lt.-Col. Foy 

Lt. Russell 


13 
8 
13 
12 
10 
2 

4 
57 


8 
3 
7 
2 

3 

i 


128 

79 

132 

105 

69 

s 


Lt. Cashing 


1 


1 
65 


1 
30 


22 




24 


395 


547 



Add to this the 659 lost at Stone Eiver, with many other cas- 
ualties in smaller engagements, and it shows a fearful destruction 
of human life in one small command. 

For further and more minute particulars reference is made to 

the reports of regimental commanders herewith forwarded. 

I have the honor to be, etc., 

W. GROSE, 

Colonel Commanding Third Brigade. 

L. EoicE, Lieutenant Sixth Ohio Jiegintent, A. A. D. C. 



CHATTANOOGA AND BROWN's FERRY. 477 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

CHATTANOOGA AND BROWN'S FERRY. 

(SEPTEMBER 21-NOVEMBER 19, 1863.) 

BRAGG had been too severely handled to renew the attack 
on Monday, September 21st, although Rosecrans' shat- 
tered forces, under the immediate command of General Thomas, 
lay all day in line of battle on Missionary Ridge, no f\irther 
away than Rossville. He contented himself with making a 
cavalry reconnoissance, and sending forward a few guns to 
shell the Union lines, which they did toward evening, but 
without inflicting any serious damage. Meantime, Rosecrans 
had perfected his plans for fortifying Chattanooga, and thither, 
on the night of the 21st, the whole army was withdrawn, and 
with amazing energy began throwing up breastworks. Bragg's 
videttes promptly followed, and before night-fall of the 22d the 
rebels occupied Missionary Ridge, in full view of the belea- 
guered troops, shut up in the little dusty town below; but, 
beyond throwing a few wildly-aimed shells, did not molest 
them. It took Bragg some days to pick up the small arms 
and other trophies scattered over the battle-field, count his 
prisoners, and magnify his victory in grandiloquent dispatches 
to Richmond — wrangling fiercely the while with Polk and 
Hill for not having made it decisive — then march the bulk 
of his armv to the south-eastern base of Missionary Ridge, 



478 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

near Mission Mills and Chickamauga Station, for supplies and 
rest ; and, meanwhile, the defenses of Chattanooga were being 
made impregnable. He was then urged to cross the Tennessee 
above his fortressed enemy, and march upon Nashville, but 
refused to entertain the proposition for a moment, alleging, 
among other reasons, his lack of transportation and pontoons, 
and the danger of having his army cut in two by a sudden 
rise of the river. His decision was undoubtedly a wise one. 

However, while afraid to attempt either to fight or flank 
Rosecrans out of Chattanooga, Bragg was very sanguine he 
could be starved out; and in this idea was comprehended the 
whole of the rebel commander's strategy. Posting his right 
upon the Tennessee, four miles above Chattanooga, he invested 
the city with a line of camps extending along the heights 
and northward-facing slopes of Missionary Ridge, and thence 
across the narrow valley of Chattanooga Creek to Lookout 
Mountain, rising grimly twenty-two hundred feet above the 
Tennessee, and distant from Chattanooga barely three miles. 
His pickets pushed close up to those of the Union army, and 
threw up a line of earth-works along Orchard Knoll, and 
another and stronger one a mile further back, just at the base 
of Missionary Ridge. The river bank, for many miles below 
the " Nose of Lookout," he lined with watchful sentinels, sup- 
porting them at several points with some of his best artillery ; 
and thus he not only held Rosecrans' single line of railroad 
communication with Bridgeport, and controlled perfectly the 
navigation of the Tennessee, but was even enabled to com- 
mand the wagon-road cut into the face of the precipitous rock 
on the northern bank, where the river at "the Narrows" 
rushes between gigantic cliffs, formed on one side by Wal- 
dron's Ridge, and by spurs of the Raccoon Mountains on the 
other. Once a large train belonging to Palmer's division was 



CHATTANOOGA AND BROWN's FERRY. 479 

allowed to file into view at this point, when the rebels opened 
fire upon it from the opposite heights, killed and wounded sev- 
eral of the drivers, and disabled scores of mules before they could 
be cut loose and run past, leaving the wagons sticking there, mid- 
way, as it almost seemed, between the earth and heavens. The 
only route now left Rosecrans for bringing forward supplies 
Was one that necessitated sixty miles of wagoning, over rough 
mountains and bad roads, that soon became all but impassable. 
This was to cross the pontoon bridge at Chattanooga, climb 
Waldron's Ridge, descend upon the other side to Anderson, 
move down the Sequatchie Valley to Jasper, and thence pro- 
ceed to Stevenson, the nearest accessible depot upon the rail- 
road. Even this route Bragg sought to render insecure by 
cavalry raids ; and about a fortnight after the battle of Chick- 
amauga, Rosecrans lost a thousand wagons and millions of 
rations at one fell swoop by Forrest in his rear, whence, how- 
ever, the rebel trooper was finally driven with considerable 
loss. Famine was the foe, more dreaded than all Bragg's 
legions, which now confronted the Army of the Cumberland. 
Five long and dreary weeks did the "siege of Chattanooga" 
continue, without any sign of relief, so far as the troops could 
discover, each day apparently more hopeless than the preced- 
ing, and bringing them nearer the final catastrophe. True, 
Hooker was hurried into Tennessee as soon as possible after 
the tidings of Chickamauga reached Washington, bringing 
with him the splendid reenforcement of eighteen thousand 
men — Howard's Eleventh and Slocum's Twelfth Corps — from 
the Army of the Potomac ; but the impossibility of subsisting 
them at Chattanooga kept them far in the rear, not a brigade 
being nearer than Bridgeport. Sherman, too, was on the way 
from Memphis with as many more men, belonging to the Army 
of the Tennessee ; but, by Halleck's order, he was tinkering 



480 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

up the railroad as he advanced, and making lamentably slow 
progress in consequence. Without a murmur, the brave men 
cooped up in the "Hawk's Nest"* among the mountains 
submitted to their privations, and performed all the labors 
imposed upon them ; for the American volunteer, during the 
great rebellion, was not a machine, an unreasoning instrument 
in the hands of his superiors, but an intelligent, thinking man, 
and, above all, a sterling patriot; and every private in the 
ranks now realized the importance of holding Chattanooga. 

The Sixth Ohio's experience at this time differed in no im- 
portant respect from that of every other regiment in the Army 
of the Cumberland. The leading events may be briefly chron- 
icled. For two days after the army's withdrawal to Chatta- 
nooga, the regiment (now under the command of Major Erwin) 
lay in position upon the advanced line, with heavy details at 
work upon the fortifications, where the sound of the ax, pick- 
ax, and spade might have been heard at all hours of the night, 
as well as day. On the 24th It was relieved, and retired a 
little way toward the rear, but next morning returned to its 
place at the breastworks. Heavy firing at the front was of 
daily occurrence for a fortnight after the battle, and more than 
once it seemed as if the rebels were about to attack again in 
force. Before the end of September, however, the intrench- 
ments had been made sufficiently strong to justify the troops 
in a feeling of perfect security, so far as concerned any direct 
assault from Missionary Ridge or Chattanooga Valley. On 
the 27th the Sixth Ohio went into regular camp, and was 
allowed a little rest. On the 29th, by a special arrangement 
with Bragg, two hundred ambulances were sent through the 
rebel lines to the hospitals at Crawfish Springs, whence they 

*This is said to be the meaning of the word "Chattanooga" in the 
ori";inal Cherokee. 



CHATTANOOGA AND BROWN's FERRY. 481 

returned at midnight with six or seven hundred Union wound- 
ed — helpless, shattered forms that never more would be able 
to fight their country's battles, even should they recover. 
Among this number was Captain Tinker, whom all had sup- 
posed dead and buried, but who now rc-appeared, clad in a 
dirty suit of mingled blue and gray, and weak as a child from 
intense suifering, yet as full of " grit " as ever. 

" On Sunday, October 4th," says a diary, " a member of the 
Christian Commission preached to our regiment in the morn- 
iug, and in the eveniug we had dress parade for the first time 
since the battle." On the 5th, " at dress parade, a shell from 
a rebel battery flew over the regiment, and struck the ground 
beyond. Almost every one made an involuntary bow. The 
rebel cannon, which dot the sides of Lookout, have been throw- 
ing shells all day, but hurt no one. The enemy also shelled 
our working parties." On the 3d, General Rosecrans addressed 
an ominous order to each of his division commanders, as fol- 
lows : " Until further orders, only two-thirds rations will be 
issued to your command, and when you deem it sufficient, 
only one-half rations." Three days later another : " The lo- 
cality from which fire-wood may be cut (by wood-parties, under 
the direction of the regimental quartermasters) will be carefully 
designated by yourself, care being taken that our abaltis is not 
destroyed, and that no timber needed for the fortifications is 
appropriated. The troops must especially be prevented from 
burning the railroad ties, or in any way injuring the track." 
Says a Sixth Ohio letter : " Before we left Chattanooga, there 
was hardly a chip to be found within two miles of it larger 
than your thumb-nail." 

On the 9th of October a general order was promulgated, 
announcing the consolidation of the Twentieth and Twenty- 
first Corps, to form the Fourth Corps, under the command of 
31 



482 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

Major-General Gordon Granger, the same officer who mustered 
the Sixth Ohio into the three-months' service, and at its 
reorganization was spoken of for the colonelcy. Times had 
changed since then ! The men parted from Crittenden with 
general regret, his kind manners and thoughtful regard for 
their comfort having made him personally popular with all. 
The change just noted was the first step in a general reorgan- 
ization of the Army of the Cumberland, designed to reduce 
the number of its subordinate commands, strengthen those 
that were retained, and give greater compactness and mo- 
bility to the Avhole. The Sixth Ohio and Twenty-third Ken- 
tucky were transferred to General Hazen's brigade, and with 
it to the division of General Wood. 

In command of what now became the Third Brigade, First 
Division, Fourth Army Corps — comprising, among its nine 
regiments, the Eighty-fourth Illinois, Twenty-fourth Ohio, and 
Ninth and Thirty-sixth Indiana — Colonel Grose took part in 
the subsequent operations around Chattanooga, the winter cam- 
paign in East Tennessee, and the advance upon Atlanta. On 
the 30th of July, 1864, while in front of the place last named, 
he was promoted brigadier-general, with which rank he con- 
tinued in command of his brigade until June, 1865, soon 
after which he was detailed as president of the famous Crane 
court-martial at Nashville. He was brevetted Major-General 
of Volunteers on the 15th of August, in that year; resigned in 
the following December, and returned to his home in New- 
castle, Indiana, and is now United States Revenue Collector in 
the Fifth District of Indiana. 

Major-General Palmer commanded the First Division, 
Fourth Army Corps, until Thomas replaced Rosecrans at the 
head of the Army of the Cumberland, when he succeeded the 



CHATTAXOOGA AND BROWN's FERRY. 483 

former in command of the Fourteenth Corps; M'as relieved 
therefrom, at his own request, a short time before the fall of 
Atlanta; afterward commanded in Kentucky, where, to his en- 
during honor, he incurred the hatred of every rebel in the 
State; resigned early in the year 1866, and returned to the 
practice of his profession at home; and, at this writing, is the 
Republican candidate for Governor of Illinois. 

Brigadier-General Thomas J. Wood, the new division com- 
mander of the Sixth Ohio, was born in Kentucky, and ui)on 
his graduation at West Point, in 1845, was appointed second 
lieutenant in the corps of Topographical Engineers. Under 
Generals Taylor and Scott, he served with distinction through- 
out the Mexican war, being transferred, at his own request, 
while at Monterey, to the Second Dragoons. He passed six 
years with that command on the western frontiers, and being 
then promoted to a captaincy in one of the new cavalry regi- 
ments which were organized in the summer of 1855, spent four 
more years in active campaigning against the Indians on the 
plains. From the autumn of 1859 to the spring of 1861, 
he was engaged in traveling in the old world, upon leave of 
absence, extending his journeys to various parts of Asia and 
Africa, and some time during this period was promoted major. 
Reporting for duty before the expiration of his leave of ab- 
sence, to aid in suppressing the rebellion, he was assigned the 
task of organizing and mustering Indiana's quota of volun- 
teers, and continued in the performance of this duty until ap- 
pointed Brigadier-General of Volunteers, on the 11th of Octo- 
ber, 1861, and ordered to report to General Sherman, at Lou- 
isville. After commanding a brigade at Camp Nevin, for about 
two months, he was appointed to the command of the Sixth 
Division, Army of the Ohio, and thenceforward, until the close 
of the war, his service was uninterruptedly at the front, and 



484 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMEXT. 

able tlirougliont. He commanded the Fourth Corps for several 
months before its final disbandment, and then the Department 
of Mississippi. He attained the rank of major-general by 
hard fighting; and faithful service, and is now colonel of the 
Second Cavalry. 

William Babcock Hazen was born in Windsor County, Ver- 
mont, September 27, 1830, of Revolutionary ancestry, who 
fought their way to such positions as colonel and brigadier- 
general. When he was about three years of age, his parents 
emigrated to Portage County, Ohio, and from that State young 
Hazen was appointed cadet at West Point, in 1851, and four 
years later brevet second lieutenant in the Fourth Infantry. 
He served on the Pacific coast, campaigning actively against the 
Indians, until the spring of 1856, when he came East, with the 
commission of second lieutenant in the Eighth Infantry. Two 
years of almost constant service against the Indians in Western 
Texas and New Mexico afforded him many opportunities for the 
display of characteristic gallantry and good conduct — such, in- 
deed, that he was four times complimented in general orders 
from the head-quarters of the army — and, on the 3d of No- 
vember, 1859, resulted in his receiving a severe wound in the 
left hand and right side, the bullet of his Camanche antagonist 
still remaing in the muscles of the back. Lieutenant Hazen was 
almost totally disabled for more than a year, and the breaking 
out of the war found him on duty at West Point, as assistant 
professor of infantry tactics. After some months of constant 
importunity to be relieved, in order that he might accept the 
command of one of the volunteer regiments whose colonelcies 
were offered him from time to time, Captain Hazen finally suc- 
ceeded in obtaining " leave of absence," with authority to as- 
sume command of the Forty-first Ohio; and, in November, 
(1861,) accordingly led that fine regiment to the field. His 



CHATTANOOGA AND BROWN's FERRY. 485 

services as brigade commander in the same division with the 
Sixth Ohio have been frequently referred to in the course of 
our narrative. His superb behavior at Stone River, and the 
consummate ability with which he defended the "Round For- 
est/' the key-point of the buttle-fiekl, were rewarded with a 
brigadier-general's commission to date from November 29, 
1862, and stamped him a soldier who had mastered his profes- 
sion and could be relied upon in any emergency. General 
Hazen's command, at the reorganization which we are now 
considering, was designated the Second Brigade, Third Di- 
vision, Fourth Army Corps, and consisted of nine regiments, 
as follows: First, Sixth, Forty-first, Ninety-third, and One 
Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio ; Fifth, Sixth, and Twenty- 
third Kentucky; and Sixth Indiana. 

On the 11th of October, General Hazen reviewed his new 
brigade, and for several days afterward there was much chang- 
ing of camps and shifting of positions, consequent upon the 
army's reorganization. On the 13th, the Ohio soldiers in the 
Army of the Cumberland, voted for Governor and other State 
officers. In the Sixth Ohio, Brough received two hundred 
and five votes, and Vallandigham one. The aggregate vote 
of the latter, in Wood's division, was sixteen. On the night 
of the 15th, Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher rejoined the regi- 
ment, wet, muddy, and tired, and at once assumed command. 
The other members of his detail were left in Cincinnati upon 
recruiting service, under the superintendence of Colonel An- 
derson, whose Chickamauga wound was a severe one, and pre- 
vented his return to the front for some months. On the 17th 
the rebels sent a raft down the river, now very high from re- 
cent rains, and broke the pontoon bridge at Chattanooga. Al- 
though constant vigilance prevented their subsequent attempts 



486 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

from becoming successful, the floods in the Tennessee more 
than once repeated this injury, and temporarily cut off com- 
munication with the northern bank, whence the whole army's 
scanty supplies were received. On the 21st, the Sixth Ohio 
changed camp, two hundred and fifty yards nearer the breast- 
works. The labor of fortifying still went on, the regiment 
daily contributing thirty-eight men for that purpose, in addi- 
tion to a detail of two officers and fifty-two men for picket 
duty. 

Day by day the suffering of the troops for food increased, 
and " We are very hungry," or some equivalent expression, is 
an entry that constantly recurs in every diary kept at Chatta- 
nooga at this period. When the supply trains came in from 
Stevenson, a crowd of hungry soldiers might always have been 
seen at the store-houses, waiting to pick up every piece of 
cracker as large as a pea that might be dropped in unloading, 
or to hold their hats under the end of the wagon-bed to catch 
the still smaller crumbs that might chance to fall. Forage 
trains they would follow for hundreds of yards, in the hope 
that an ear of corn, or a few grains at least, might be jolted 
out into the mud. Horses and mules were dying daily from 
sheer starvation, while those that survived were so enfeebled as 
to be of little service. It is computed that ten thousand ani- 
mals died during the siege of Chattanooga; at any rate, the 
road across Waldron's Ridge and back to Stevenson was fairly 
lined with dead carcasses. 

On the 18th of October, Rosecrans was relieved, and Gen- 
eral Thomas, whom every officer and soldier in the Army of 
the Cumberland revered and liked, next day assumed com- 
mand. On the 23d, General Grant reached Chattanooga, with 
an order in his pocket, delivered him by Mr. Stanton, at 
Louisville, on the 18th, placing him in command of the three 



CHATTAXOOGA AND BROWN 'S FEERY. 487 

departments of the Cumberland, Ohio, and Tennessee, consoli- 
dated as the Military Division of the Mississippi. Halleck 
had also written Grant at considerable length, concluding with 
this assurance : " Whatever measures you may deem proper to 
adopt under existing circumstances, will receive all possible 
assistance from the authorities at Washington."* How dif- 
ferent from the treatment which the General-in-Chief and the 
Secretary of War had meted Rosecrans! Grant had grown 
immensely since the battle of Shiloh. At Vicksburg he had 
boldly planned and ably executed one of the most successful 
campaigns of modern warfare, and now was fairly entitled to 
be considered the first soldier of the Republic. New victories 
were soon to crown him such beyond all cavil; for it was 
Grant's great, yet well-deserved, good fortune to come to 
Chattanooga under circumstances which made him master of 
the situation, and gave the game into his own hands. 

How to feed the army was now the first and vital question. 
The problem was solved by sending Hazen's and Turchin's 
brigades to seize the mouth of Lookout Valley at Brown's 
Ferry, nine miles below Chattanooga, by the U-shaped course 
of the Tennessee, (although scarcely three miles by the wagon- 
road across Moccasin Point, which is the peninsula enclosed 
within the U,) and by bringing up Hooker's column to occupy 
that valley in force, and guard the roads running thither from 
Bridgeport. In what proportion the credit of planning these 
movements should be distributed among Rosecrans, Grant, 
W. F. (" Baldy ") Smith, and Thomas, it does not concern us 
here to inquire; and even the execution of that plan is em- 
braced within the limits of our subject only in part. 

On the 25th of October, Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher 
received an order from brigade head-quarters as follows : " Reg- 

* General Badeau's Life of Grant. 



488 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

imental commanders will at once organize parties of picked 
men as specified below, each squad to be in charge of an officer 
selected especially for efficiency and courage. As soon as or- 
ganized, each colonel will furnish these head-quarters with 
complete rolls of the squads, which may include the names of 
men on picket, if they are known to be effective. Command- 
ers of parties will at once muster and drill their squads. . . 
The Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry will furnish seven squads 
of twenty-five men each, including officers and non-commis- 
sioned officers. . . Regimental commanders will at once 
take command of these squads, leaving the officer next in 
rank to command the remainder of the regiment. Lieutenant- 
Colonel E. B. Langdon, First Ohio Volunteer Infantry, is 
detailed to command the remainder of the brigade, and will 
report at these head-quarters." No clue was furnished as to 
the object or destination of the movement ; it was only known 
that the undertaking was as dangerous as it was important. 
The officers selected by Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher were 
Captains Russell, Thatcher, Getty, and Southgate (the only 
officers of that grade with the regiment). First Lieutenant 
Choate, and Second Lieutenants Meline and Glisan. 

Next day a considerable portion of the Sixth Ohio was sent 
on picket, and nothing more was heard of the secret expedi- 
tion until evening, when the detail was relieved and returned 
to camp. At midnight, the men before selected in the various 
regiments were ordered to get ready to move at once, without 
blankets, but with a full supply of cartridges. They fell in 
soon afterward, and marched to the brigade rendezvous, and 
thence through the town to the river, where a flotilla of clumsy 
flatboats and barges was in waiting, manned by oarsmen from 
Colonel Stanley's Eighteenth Ohio. Embarking promptly, 
the troops were instructed to maintain perfect silence, keep 



CHATTANOOGA AND BROWN's FERRY. 489 

close to the right bank of the river, and, on reaching their 
landing-place, to form with all possible speed, and seize the 
positions which would be pointed out to them ; and at 3 A. M. 
on the 27th the whole force started — twelve hundred piclced 
men in fifty-two boats, and organized in four sections or de- 
tachments, the first of which General Hazen accompanied. 
Six squads of the Sixth Ohio, occupying as many boats, 
formed the third regiment of the second detachment (Colonel 
Wiley's); the seventh squad, under Lieutenant Meline, being 
detached as rear-guard for the entire fleet. Meantime the re- 
mainder of Hazen's brigade, under Lieutenant-Colonel Lang- 
don, and the whole of Turchin's brigade, had filed over the 
pontoon bridge at Chattanooga, and were marching across 
Moccasin Point as supports. 

The moon was at its full, though obscured by clouds; the 
river high, and the current strong. The oarsmen bent to their 
tasks, pulling across toward the opposite shore, and one by 
one the boats dropped through the opening made for their 
passage in the pontoon bridge, their steersmen being guided 
by the glare of fires, half concealed, upon either side of the 
opening. No sound disturbed the night's deep quiet, save the 
dipping of the oars and the ripple of the waters. The current 
was soon found to be sufficiently strong to permit the oars to 
be dispensed with, and the boats floated silently down, striking 
a snag occasionally, or passing close under dark trees, whose 
overhanging branches seemed threatening to sweep the men 
into the stream. Two miles brought them opposite the rebel 
pickets, who could be plainly seen, taking their ease before 
blazing fires, talking together, or, perchance, humming over 
some old familiar air with happy unconcern. Holding their 
breath, as it were, the men passed under the frowning brow 
of Lookout, rising darkly above them on the left, with the 



490 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

enemy's picket-fires gleaming on the wavelets, and threatening 
their discovery every moment. Safely, however, they glided 
on — seven miles, in all, under the fire of the enemy's pickets, 
yet unperceived. The rearward boats were falling behind a 
little, when an unseen presence amid the bushes on the north- 
ern bank said, in a low voice : " The General directs that you 
keep well closed up ! " Then all was silent as before. The 
gray glimmer of early dawn was beginning to brighten into 
daylight, and reveille was just being sounded in the camps at 
Chattanooga, and the nearer ones of the enemy, as the first 
detachment reached Brown's Ferry, and rowed rapidly to the 
landing-place previously selected, on the left bank. The fore- 
most boat was within twenty feet of the shore before its pres- 
ence was recognized. Startled as by an apparition, the rebel 
pickets poured one volley into it, then turned and fled, pur- 
sued by the crews of the first three boats, pushing out the 
roadway that leads up Lookout Valley. In quick succession 
and perfect order the rest of the boats landed at two narrow 
gorges near by, cleft in the hills that stretch across the mouth 
of the valley, and forming a natural tete-de-pont for the bridge 
that was to be laid at this point. 

The second detachment moved rapidly up the slope to seize 
the crest of the ridge upon the left of the road, and took po- 
sition there, with the Fifth Kentucky on the right, the Sixth 
Ohio next, then the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio, 
and the Forty-first Ohio on the left. Two companies from 
each regiment were quickly thrown forward as skirmishers, 
while the rest commenced felling the timber on the further 
slope and constructing a parapet, each squad of twenty-five 
having brought along two axes for this purpose. Alarmed 
by the picket-firing, and the sound of Hazen's axemen on the 
ridge, the rebels poured out from their camps a little way up 



CHATTANOOGA AND BEOWN's FERRY. 491 

the valley, and attacked vigorously. But the Union line M-as 
now receiving reenforceraents every minute from Langdon's 
men across the river — the boats just emptied plying thither 
and back under straining oars — and, after a few minutes of 
rattling musketry fire, the assault was repulsed. The enemy 
then opened fire with artillery, but with no better success 
than before ; and in three hours Hazen's brigade was securely 
fortified, with an abattis of slashed timber in its front, while 
on the right Turchin was equally well posted upon the ridge 
beyond the road. The rebels gave up the contest, and moved 
off in full view up the valley. By 4 P. M., General Smith 
had the pontoon bridge completed, when some artillery and 
three more regiments of infantry were brought over ; and 
the movement, which had been most admirably conducted 
throughout, was now a success beyond all peradventure. "Our 
losses," says General Hazen's perspicuous report, " were five 
killed, twenty-one wounded, and nine missing. We buried 
six of the enemy, and a large number are known to have been 
wounded, including the colonel commanding. We captured a 
few prisoners, their camp, twenty beeves, six pontoons, and a 
barge, and several thousand bushels of forage also fell into 
our hands. The enemy had at this point one thousand in- 
fantry, three pieces of artillery, and a squadron of cavalry — 
an ample force, properly disposed, to have successfully disputed 
our landing." The casualty list of the Sixth Ohio comprised 
but one name — private Joseph Grau, of Company K, who was 
shot through the head and severely wounded. 

The next day Howard's corps, of Hooker's column, came 
down Lookout Valley, well-clad and trim, though scarcely as 
hardy in appearance as the ragged, half-starved survivors of 
Chickamauga, who gave them welcome at Brown's Ferry. 
On the following night, Gear5''8 division, of the Twelfth Corps, 



492 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

was furiously attacked near Wauhatchie, but beat off their 
assailants with loss, after a gallant fight of nearly three hours' 
duration. Two good lines had now been secured by which to 
obtain supplies from Bridgeport, namely, the main wagon-road 
by way of Whitesides, Wauhatchie, and Brown's Ferry, a 
distance of twenty-eight miles ; and the route by steamer to 
Kelley's Ferry, and thence through a gap in the Raccoon 
Mountains to Brown's Ferry, which reduced the wagoning to 
less than nine miles, including the distance across Moccasin 
Point. The siege of Chattanooga was virtually raised, the 
spirits of the army revived at once, and all felt that victory 
was surely organizing. 

Hazen's brigade continued fortifying for two or three days, 
the Sixth Ohio occupying an uncomfortable bivouac on the 
steep sides of the ridge just behind the crest first seized. At 3 
A. M., on the 30th, the little stern-wheel steamer " Paint Rock " 
ran the blockade of the rebel batteries on Lookout Mountain, 
and passed down the river on its way to Bridgeport for sup- 
plies. " Still on short rations," says a Sixth Ohio diary, under 
date of the 31st, "so that we are glad to get corn and parch 
it for food. Our daily allowance is two crackers, one-half 
pound of pork or beef, and one spoonful of coffee in the grain. 
General Hazen has had some corn ground, and the meal has 
helped us along a little." But this state of affairs lasted but 
a day or two longer, when the brigade was set to work to 
build log-huts for winter-quarters. In the midst of this labor, 
on the 5th of November, it was suddenly ordered back to 
Chattanooga. The weather was wet and raw. 

On the 7th of November the Sixth Ohio changed camp to 
Fort Palmer, a lunette which had been constructed mainly by 
Cruft's old brigade. On the 10th it was on picket — " the 
rebs in plain sight," says a diary, " but very civil. Their vi- 



CHATTANOOGA AND BROWN's FERRY. 493 

dettes hallooed to ours that they would exchange whisky for 
coffee. We also heard their bands playing the ' Bonnie Blue 
Flag' and ^ Annie Laurie.'" On the 11th, the regiment was 
paid by Major Diven, for the four months ending October 31st. 
On Sunday, the 15th, brigade inspection was held, and certain 
sentences of a late court-martial were carried into execution. 
Says a diary: "Napoleon Bonaparte was drummed through 
the brigade for cowardice ! He is now a private in the Forty- 
first Ohio. A deserter had his head shaved and his uniform 
taken off, leaving him a ridiculous spectacle in drawers and 
shirt. The man who pulled the pants off him jerked too hard, 
and upset the prisoner, causing a laugh along the whole line." 
On the 18th, the Sixth Ohio was again on picket, hearing 
heavy, firing on the right, and at night seeing rebel signal 
lights waving to and fro on Lookout Mountain and Missionary 
Ridge. Says a sergeant : " Although all intercourse with the 
enemy's videttes is forbidden, by calling out we found that we 
were opposed by the Twenty -fourth Alabama ; and when we 
told who we were, they replied, 'Bully for the Sixth Ohio!'" 
Next day Captain Donovan rejoined the regiment from re- 
cruiting service, and Adjutant Throop from absence by reason 
of wounds. They were just in time to have a share in the 
glorious work of storming INIissionary Ridge. 

Colonel Anderson, Captains Bense, Montagnier, and Oilman, 
and Ijieutenant Cormany, had been granted leaves of absence 
after Chickaraauga on account of wounds, and now were in 
Cincinnati. Captain Tinker, too feeble to bear removal, was 
in hospital at Chattanooga, and Lieutenant Holmes was in 
Libby. Lieutenant Irwin had discharged the duties of adju- 
tant during the greater portion of Lieutenant Throop's absence, 
but was now himself absent on sick leave, as was Lieutenant 



494 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

La Bille also. The resignation of Quartermaster Shoemaker 
was accepted on the 22d of October, and that of Lieutenant 
Antram on the 29th. The latter returned to Cincinnati, and 
subsequently performed some service in Hancock's corps. The 
former resumed the railroad business in the transportation de- 
partment of Sherman's army ; and, at the close of the war, 
found himself in North Carolina, in charge of the Wilmington 
and Weldon Railroad. For the past three years he has been 
the popular host of the American Hotel, at Wilmington, in that 
State. Lieutenant Goodnough, who commanded Company A 
for five weeks after the first day's fight at Chickamauga, was 
detailed as acting regimental quartermaster. On the 3d of 
November, Lieutenant Graham again joined the regiment, 
having been restored by an order from the War Department, 
dated August 12th; and next day Surgeon Stephens, after six 
weeks' efficient service as chief operator at the division hospi- 
tal, was detailed as brigade surgeon. For a month after the 
battle of Chickamauga, or until the return of Sergeant Mellen 
(wounded), the duties of sergeant-major were performed by 
First Sergeant Nicholson, of Company K. 

Thus, on the 20th of November, the officers on duty with 
the Sixth Ohio were as follows : 

Field and Staff — Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher, INIajor 
Erwin, Adjutant Throop, Assistant Surgeon Bedell, and Act- 
ing Begjmeutal Q. M. Goodnough. 

Company A — Second Lieutenant Glisan (detached from 
Company D), commanding company since October 25th. 

Company B — First Lieutenant Choate (detached from Com- 
pany G), commanding company since September 19th. 

Company C — Captain Southgate. (Lieutenant Kestner re- 
turned from recruiting service a day or two later.) 

Company D — Cautain Russell. 



CHATTANOOGA AND BP^OWK's FEERY, 495 

Company E — Second Lieutenant Graham, commanding com- 
pany. 

Company F — Captain Thatcher. 

Company G — Captain Getty. 

Company H — Second Lieutenant Meline, commanding com- 
pany since September 19th. 

Company I — Second Lieutenant Lewis, commanding com- 
pany since September 20th. 

Company K — Captain Donovan and Second Lieutenant 
Slanker. (The latter commanded the company for two montlis 
preceding the return of Caj)tain Donovan.) 



496 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

MISSIONARY RIDGE. 

(NOVEMBER 20-25, 1863.) 

NEVER did any commander play into the hands of his 
opponent more completely than Bragg, when, on the 4th 
of November, he detached a force of fifteen thousand infantry, 
five thousand cavalry, and eighty guns, and sent them into 
East Tennessee, under Longstreet, to crush or capture Burn- 
side. His enemy thus weakened, while he had himself just 
been strengthened by the junction of Hooker's column upon 
his right, Grant desired to resume the offensive at once, or at 
least to make such a demonstration as would relieve the press- 
ure on Burnside, for whose safety he was keenly solicitous ; 
and he was only restrained from so doing by Thomas' inability 
to move for want of artillery horses, and other hindrances 
which his utmost exertions could not entirely remove. Sher- 
man had already been ordered to " drop all work on the rail- 
road, and push forward to Chattanooga as rapidly as possible ;" 
and anxiously Grant awaited his arrival, with fresh horses, 
and such a reenforcement of veteran troops as could not fail 
to insure the success of projected operations. 

The original plan contemplated moving Sherman across the 
Tennessee, at the mouth of North Chickamauga Creek, whence 
he was to ascend the north-eastern extremity of Missionary 



MISSIOXARY RIDGE. 497 

Eidge, and sweep forward along the ridge, taking the enemy's 
intrencliments both in flank and rear. As it was conceded 
that a direct front attack upon the enemy's works on INIis- 
sionary Ridge coukl only be made successful at a great and un- 
necessary cost of life — if, indeed, they could be carried at all — 
Sheridan's and Wood's divisions, of the Fourth Corps, were 
to cross Citico Creek, near its mouth, just above Chattanooga; 
move up the peninsula inclosed between the creek and the 
Tennessee River; form a junction with General Sherman's 
right, then swing toward the south-west, and sweep along the 
lower slope and base of Missionary Ridge. The remaining 
force in Chattanooga was to make a demonstration against the 
enemy's works directly in their front, looking out for the safety 
of the town, meanwhile, against a counter attack. General 
Hooker's two corps in Lookout Valley, with Cruft's (formerly 
Palmer's) division, which was to be brought up from White- 
sides, were to threaten Lookout Mountain. In its execution, 
however, this plan was materially modified, as we shall see. 

By the 20th of November, Sherman's command was nearly 
up ; and, during the afternoon of that day, the troops at Chat- 
tanooga received precise and rigid orders for a movement at 
daylight on the next morning, with two days' cooked rations 
and one hundred rounds of ammunition. "All detailed men," 
said General Hazen's order, " provost and other guards, clerksj 
orderlies, cooks, and officers' servants (soldiers) will be put in 
ranks at once, and are relieved, temporarily, from present de- 
tails. All musicians, and other men without arms, will be 
enrolled for a hospital corps, mustered, and put in charge of 
the medical officer. One enlisted man, a non-combatant, will 
be left in charge of each company camp, and one at regimental 
and brigade head-quarters." In the evening, however, these 
orders were suspended — on account of the rain, then steadily 
32 



498 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

falling, as the men supposed, but in reality because Sherman 
was behindhand, although he was straining every nerve and 
receiving every possible assistance. The 21st was a gloomy, 
wet day, and passed in quiet. Major Erwin rejoined the Sixth 
Ohio, from an absence of eight days in charge of a forage 
train, which had been obliged to go within fifteen miles of 
Kingston, East Tennessee, so completely had the country been 
stripped of supplies around Chattanooga. During the 22d 
(Sunday), great and mysterious activity was observed among 
the rebels on Missionary Ridge, large bodies of infantry, with 
trains and artillery, moving from the direction of Ijookout 
Mountain and Chattanooga Valley toward the left, in plain 
view. The guns of Fort Wood shelled the enemy at long 
range for several hours. The orders of the 20th were re- 
peated, but again they were countermanded, for the reason 
that Sherman had not yet been able to reach his assigned 
position. Toward evening, the Eleventh Corps, which had 
marched across Moccasin Point the day before, crossed the 
pontoon bridge to Chattanooga, and encamped close in the 
rear of Wood's and Sheridan's divisions. 

At noon on the 23d — a beautiful day of late autumn — 
Wood's division, supported on the right by Sheridan's, was 
ordered to make a reconnoissance toward Orchard Knob, and 
develop the lines of the enemy, whom Grant suspected of an 
intention to slip away before the blow, so long preparing, 
could be delivered. The division was promptly formed on 
the level slope immediately south of Fort Wood, with Hazen's 
brigade on the right and Willich's on the left, both formed in 
two lines, and Beatty's brigade in reserve in rear of Willich's 
left. These dispositions were necessarily made in full view 
of the rebels, and within six or seven hundred yards of their 
outposts, but were mistaken* for the preliminaries of a grand 



MISSIONARY RIDGE. 499 

review. Crowds of Bragg's men on Missionary Ridge were 
looking on with admiration at the pageant on the plains be- 
low, until those lines of blue and burnished steel swept past 
the picket stations, and the sharp crackling of musketry ran 
along the base of Orchard Knob; then they comprehended its 
meaning. 

General Wood's official report is worthy of the events which 
it describes. We can not do better than follow his graphic 
narrative from this point onward, referring to General Hazen's 
and Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher's reports, in connection 
with the officer's letter also appended, for a more particular 
account of the Sixth Ohio's part amid these glorious scenes. 

Fort Wood crowns a conicnl emhience about two hundred feet 
above the level of the river, situated about half a mile out of 
Chattauooga, ia a south-easterly direction. From its parapet the 
rebel works and troops were clearly discernible. The descent of 
this hill, on the northern, eastern, and western sides is abrupt, but 
gradual on the southern, extending down into the valley, through 
which runs the Western and Atlantic Railway. At one and a 
half o'clock P. M. the arrangements were all completed, the troops 
were in position, and the reserve ammunition and ambulance trains 
in rear of Fort Wood. Then, at the bugle signal, the magnifi- 
cent array and serried columns moved forward. Scarcely ever 
does it fall to the lot of man to witness so grand a military dis- 
play. Every circumstance was present that could heighten the 
interest of the scene, or impart dramatic effect. On the ramparts 
of Fort Wood were gathered officers of high rank [Grant, Thomas, 
Howard, Granger, and others], crowned with honors gathered on 
other fields. There, also, were officers [General W. F. Smith, 
Quartermaster-General Meigs, etc.] distinguished for scientific 
attainments, and rare administrative ability. Troops in line and 
column checkered the broad plain of Chattanooga. In front, 



500 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

plainly to be seen, was the enemy, who was soon to be encoun- 
tered in deadly conflict. My division seemed to drink in the in- 
spiration of the scene, and, when the advance was sounded, moved 
forward in the perfect order of a holiday parade. ... I 
should do injustice to the brave men who thus moved forward to 
the conflict in such perfect order, were I to omit to say that not 
one straggler lagged behind to sully the magnificence and perfect- 
ness of the grand battle array. 

From Fort Wood to the railroad the country is open. South 
of the railroad the country passed over is partly open and partly 
wooded. Hazeu's brigade had to pass over the open field, several 
hundred yards in breadth, and Willich's through the woods. On 
the southern side of the field the enemy's front line of pickets 
was posted. Orchard Knob, given in the order directing the re- 
connoissance as the guiding point, is a steep, craggy knoll, rising 
some hundred feet above the general level of the valley of Chat- 
tanooga. It is twenty -one hundred yards from Fort Wood, and 
had been held by the rebels as an outpost since the investment 
was first established. The position being naturally so strong, 
they had done but little to strengthen it by intrenchments on its 
summit. To the right of Orchard Knob, looking toward the 
South, a rocky, abrupt, wooded ridge extends several hundred 
yards toward the south-west, but is not so elevated as the knob. 
The enemy had formed rude but strong barricades on the north- 
ern slope, just bej'^ond the crest of this ridge. To the left of the 
knob, still looking toward the south, a long line of rifle-pits ex- 
tended away off to the north-east, and, trending round, reached 
almost to Citico Creek. Orchard Knob was the citadel of this 
line of intrenchments. 

General Willich was ordered to direct his brigade on the knob, 
and General Hazen his brigade on the intrenchments on the right 
of it. As soon as the skirmishers moved forward, the enemy 
opened fire. Across the open field, and through the woods, the 
skirmishers kept up a sharp, rattling fire, steadily and rapidly 



MISSIONARY RIDGE. 501 

driving, in the enemy. As the knob and intrenchments were 
neared, the fire became hotter, and the resistance of the rebels 
more determined, but the majestic advance of our lines was not 
for a moment stayed. Finally, Willich's brigade, which had met 
with less opposition than Hazen's, having arrived quite near the 
knob, "by a bold brush" ascended its steep acclivity, crowned its 
summit, and it was ours. In the meantime, Hazen's brigade was 
encountering a determined resistance from the enemy, sheltered 
by his breastworks, on the rocky ridge to the right. For a few 
moments the fire was sharp and destructive. More than a hun- 
dred casualties in the leading regiments attest the severity of the 
fire. But nothing could restrain the impetuosity of the troops, 
and in a few moments after Willich's brigade had carried Orchard 
Knob, Hazen's skirmishers poured over the enemy's barricades. 
The Twenty-eighth Alabama, with its flag, was captured almost 
entire. So soon as the knob and barricades were taken, the 
enemy fled, to take shelter in his intrenchments at the base of 
Mission Ridge, . . . Shortly after this brilliant dash. General 
Granger, commanding the Fourth Army Corps, joined me at Or- 
chard Knob. Personal observation assured him of the exteusive- 
iiess and completeness of our success. The result having been 
reported to General Thomas, he ordered the position to be held 
and intrenched, and soon the men were engaged in this work. 
While so employed, the enemy opened a most terrific fire of shot 
and shell on us from several batteries established on Mission Eidge. 
It was continued nearly an hour — in fact, until toward night- 
fall. It seems almost a miracle, but it is nevertheless true, that 
DO damage was inflicted by the enemy's artillery, further than very 
slightly wounding one man by the fragment of a shell. 
The whole of the night of the 23d was spent in intrenching our 
position, in which laborious work the troops evinced as much for- 
titude as they had shown gallantry in gaining the same. Not 
only was a line of rifle-pits and barricades constructed along the 
entire front of the division, but a strong epaulement for a six-gun 



502 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

field battery was thrown up on the summit of Orchard Knob — 
Bridge's battery of four three-inch Rodman guns, and two Napo- 
leons. The early light of Tuesday morning disclosed to the 
anxious gaze of the rebels such works as must have convinced 
them that we intended to hold the position. . . . 

During the 24th the division was quiet, remaining in undis- 
turbed possession of the important acquisitions of the previous 
afternoon. The enemy, in full view, and sheltered behind his 
rifle-pits at the base of Mission Ridge, made no eflFort to retrieve 
his losses. An occasional shot from the skirmishers, and the 
booming of a gun from Orchard Knob, varied the monotony of 
the day. We had ample opportunity to watch, with eager interest, 
the brilliant operations, though miles away, of General Hooker's 
command for the possession of Lookout Mountain ; and when the 
morning sun of Wednesday, the 25th, had dispelled the mists 
from the mountain-top, and revealed the banner of the brave and 
the free flying from the topmost peak of Lookout Mountain, loud 
and long were the shouts with which my division made the wel- 
kin ring. 

[General Wood then gives the orders which he received at 
night-foil on the 24th, to have every thing ready for an ofi'ensive 
movement early the next morning, and proceeds :] 

In coqformity with these instructions, during Tuesday night I 
had one hundred rounds of ammunition per man distributed to 
the troops, and the rations in the haversacks replenished. At 
dawn my division was ready for action, and only awaited the order 
from the senior oflicers to commence the onslaught. [This order 
was delayed by the non-appearance of Hooker's forces, sweeping 
along Mission Ridge from the south-west, as was the part assigned 
them for this day's operations.] Early in the forenoon, Orchard 
Knob became the station of oflScers of high rank and signal re- 
nown. The commanding general of the Division of the Missis- 
sippi was there, as was also the commander of the Army of the 
Cumberland. During the forenoon I was ordered to advance my 



MISSIONARY RIDGE. 503 

line of skirmishers to the southern ed<re of the wood interveuino' 
between luy position and the enemy's rifle-pits at the base of 
Mission Ridge. This service was gallantly performed, [by the 
Sixth Ohio, Twenty-third Kentucky, and a regiment from Wil- 
lich's brigade,] the enemy's skirmishers being rapidly driven back, 
and compelled to take shelter behind their rifle-pits. As the day 
progressed, the interest which attracted every eye and absorbed 
every feeling was that involved in the attempt of General Sher- 
man's command to effect a lodgment on Mission Ridge, near the 
tunnel. Severer opposition than had been expected was evidently 
being met with in that quarter ; and to lessen this, it was deter- 
mined that a movement should be made against the rebel center. 
I was ordered to advance and carry the enemy's intrenchments at 
the base of Mission Ridge, and hold them. The signal for the 
advance was to be six guns fired, in rapid succession, from the 
battery on Orchard Knob. The necessary instructions were at 
once given to the brigade commanders. It was now near three 
o'clock P. M. 

Mission Ridge is an elevated range, with an average altitude of 
several hundred feet above the general level of the country, run- 
ning from north-east to south-west. The part of it assaulted by 
my division, on the afternoon of the 25th, is about four miles from 
Chattanooga, and about a mile from Orchard Knob. Between the 
latter and the base of Mission Ridge is a broad, wooded valley, 
which, of course, had to be traversed before the intrenchments 
could be reached at the base of the ridge. Soon the booming of 
the six guns awakened the reverberations of the fastnesses of Mis- 
sion Ridge and Lookout Mountain ; and before the echoes had 
died away in the distant recesses of their rugged heights, the ad- 
vance was commenced. As soon as our troops began to move 
forward, the enemy opened a terrific fire from his batteries on the 
crest of the ridge, where they were so posted as to give both a 
direct and cross-fire on the assaulting troops. It- would not, per- 
haps, be an exaggeration to say that the enemy had fifty guns 



504 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

disposed on the crest of Mission Ridge. But the rapid firing of 
all this mass of artillery could not stay the onward movement of 
our troops. They pressed forward with dauntless ardor, and car- 
ried the line of iutrenchments at the base of the ridge. The 
enemy, impressed, no doubt, with the uselessness of resistance, 
made no serious opposition, but sought safety by flight behind 
his intrenehments on the crest above us. 

We had been instructed to carry the line of intrenehments at 
the base of the ridge, and then halt. But the enthusiasm and 
impetuosity of the troops were such that those who first reached 
the intrenehments bounded over them, and pressed on up the 
ascent after the flying enemy. [Among this number was the Sixth 
Ohio.] Moreover, the intrenehments were no protection agaiust 
the enemy's artillery on the ridge. To remain would be destruc- 
tion; to retire would be both expensive in life and disgraceful. 
Officers and men all seemed impressed with this truth, and, in 
addition, the example of those who had already commenced to 
ascend the ridge was contagious. Without waiting for an order, 
the vast mass pressed forward in the race of glory, each man eager 
to be the first on the summit. The enemy's artiller}' and mus- 
ketry could not check the impetuous assault. The troops did not 
hijlt to fire; to have done so would have been ruinous. Little 
was left to the immediate commanders of the troops except to cheer 
on the foremost, to encourage the weaker of limb, and to sustain 
the very few who seemed to be faint-hearted. To the eternal 
honor of the troops, it should be recorded that the laggards were 
indeed few in number. The interval which elapsed between the 
carrying of the intrenehments at the base of the ridge and the 
crowning of the summit, must have been one of intense and pain- 
ful anxiety to all who were not participants in the assault. The 
ascent of Mission llidge was truly an effort sufficient to try the 
strongest limbs and stoutest hearts. 

But suspense and anxiety were not of long duration. Steadily 
upward went the standard of the Union — borne onward by strong 



MISSIOXAEY RIDGE. 505 

arms, iiplield by brave hearts — and soon it was seen flying on the 
crest of Mission Ridge ! Loud, indeed, were the shouts with which 
this spectacle was received. Some of the first troops on the crest 
pressed forward in pursuit of the flying enemy immediately in front 
of them, while others (with great good sense on the part of their 
brigade commanders) were deployed to the right and left to clear 
the ridge, and to relieve the pressure on our troops that had not 
yet gained the summit. The good effect of the flank attacks was 
almost instantly apparent, and soon the entire crest was occupied 
by our troops. Mission Ridge was ours ! The enemy, whom we 
had seen during the two lonely months of the investment occupy- 
ing this dominating position, was in full retreat. As the day was 
nearly spent, and the troops much worn and somewhat disordered 
by the ascent, the pursuit could not, of course, be long continued. 
Darkness was coming on apace, and the brigades were reformed on 
the crest of the ridge, where they bivouacked for the night. 

The assault of Mission Ridge is certainly one of the most re- 
markable achievements of military history. With so much armed 
resistance encountered, probably no assault was ever so eminently 
successful.* In fifty minutes from the time the advance com- 
menced, the first flags were seen flying on the crest of the ridge. 

*The chagrin and mortification of all rebeldom over the successful 
storming of Missionary Ridge was too keen for any attempt at conceal- 
ment. General Bragg's official report says : " While riding along the 
crest, congratulating the troops [upon having checked a portion of the 
Union line on the right of Wood's division], intelligence reached me that 
our line was broken on my right, and the enemy had crowned the ridge. 
. . . . All the left, however, except a portion of Bate's division, was 
entirely routed and in rapid flight — nearly all the artillery having been 
shamefully abandoned by its infontry support. Every eflbrt which could 
be made by myself and staff, and by many other mounted officers, availed 
but little. A panic, which I had never before witnessed, seemed to have 
seized upon officers and men, and each seemed to be struggling fur his 
personal safety, regardless of his duty or his character No 



506 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

But the great achievement was not won without serious loss in gal- 
lant and accomplished officers and brave men killed and wounded. 

The grand summary of the captures by the division 

is as follows : Field-guns, twenty-nine ; field-caissons, twenty-five ; 
regimental colors, seven ; stands of small arms, two thousand and 
fifty ; and prisoners, over one thousand. [See General Hazen's 
report.] 

AN OFFICER'S LETTER. 

Chattanooga, Tenn., Nov. — , 1863. 

Pear : . . . . About 5 P. M., on the 24th, the Sixth 

Ohio was sent out on picket, between Orchard Knob and the base 
of Mission Ridge, and far on into the night could still hear Hook- 
er's men driving the rebels from Lookout Mountain. Every thing 
on our own front passed ofi" quietly, however, until about 10 A. M. 
on the 25th, when we received orders to deploy and drive the rebels 
to their works (their second line). Our boys went forward in fine 
style, finding the rebel pickets quite close to us, although up to 
this time we had seen nothing of them. The pickets fired, of course, 

satisfactory excuse can possibly be given for the shameful conduct of our 
troops on the left, in allowing their line to be penetrated. The position 
was one which ought to have been held by a line of skirmishers against 
any assaulting column, and wherever resistance was made, the enemy fled 
in disorder (?) after suffering heavy loss. Those who reached the ridge, 
did so in a condition of exhaustion from the great physical exertion in 
climbing, which rendered them powerless, and the slightest effort would 
have destroyed them." Says Pollard's "Lost Cause" : "A brigade in the 
Confederate center gave way, and, in a few moments, what had been a 
regular and vigorous battle, became a disgraceful panic and an unmiti- 
gated rout. Never was a victory plucked so easily from a position so 
Btrong. . . . The day was shamefully lest. General Bragg attempted 
to rally the broken troops; he advanced into the fire, and exclaimed: 
'Here is your commander!' but was answered with the derisive shouts 
of an absurd catch-phrase in the army, ^Hcre '5 your mule !' " 



MISSIONARY RIDGE. 507 

but our boys gave them but little time, keeping them on the run 
from the start. As soon as we cleared a small wood and got into 
an open field, the rebels opened with artillery, and, I assure you, 
the fire was terrific. We halted about two hundred yards from the 
enemy's intrenchments at the base of the ridge, and commenced 
sharpshooting. [During a brief lull in this exercise, Sergeant 
Palm brought out a mail and distributed it — Rush Drake, the 
regimental postmaster, being in the ranks with a gun.] The men 
were deployed behind stumps, logs, or any thing else that would 
afi"ord shelter, and the regiment seemed to be having quite a nice 
time, until the skirmishers from Willich's brigade, on our left, were 
ordered to fall back, and did so, leaving our flank exposed. The 
rebels soon had a column deployed to take us iu the rear, where- 
upon we retired about fifty yards, and then General Wood ordered 
Willich's skirmishers forward again. Just as we were falling back, 
Major Erwin was struck in the head by a piece of shell and in- 
stantly killed. The regiment's total loss in this skirmish was about 
eighteen killed and wounded. 

After this nothing particular occurred, except that the enemy 
still kept moving troops toward his right (our left), in order to 
meet Sherman's attack, and in so doing marched in full view along 
the summit of Mission Ridge. When Grant thought they had 
weakened their force on our front, he ordered the center and left 
center to advance and take the line of works at the base of Mis- 
sion Ridge. About 2 P. M. our regiment was relieved from the 
skirmish line by the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio, and 
ordered to the breastworks ; and, as we knew nothing of the in- 
tended attack, we congratulated ourselves upon our good fortune in 
being relieved so soon. But the moment we reached our fortifi- 
cations on Orchard Knob we saw that something was up. The 
regiment was placed on the left of the first line of our brigade, 
and had not long to wait before the six signal guns were fired on 
Orchard Knob, and then came the order to advance. Over the 
breastworks moved the line, the rebels opening their artillery upon 



508 THE STORY OF A EEGI5IENT. 

US almost Immediately. We got througli the woods and entered 
the cleared field, and then, with a yell, started on a run for the 
rifle-pits. It was a splendid and terrible sight. It reminded me 
of Tennyson's "Charge of the Light Brigade" — cannon to the 
right of us, cannon to the left of us, cannon in front of us, vol- 
leyed and thundered. We all knew that the sooner we took the 
ridge the better it was for us, and every man put in his very best. 
From what I could see, our regiment seemed to be the best run- 
ners ; we distanced the other troops, and were the first in the rifle- 
pits at the foot of the ridge. 

Although our orders only required us to seize these works, we 
at once saw that we could not hold them, the rebel artillery and 
musketry from the ridge commanding them so closely that to stay 
there long would have been certain death. So we again led on for 
the summit. Such a getting up hill you never saw. We had to 
rest every few minutes, but gradually the troops moved up until 
nearly under the works, whence the enemy were still blazing away 
at us, and their batteries, in particular, working desperately. As 
soon as we had recovered breath during our last halt, the command 
" Fix bayonets ! " was given. This the rebels heard, and it scared 
them mightily. As we rose up to move forward again, a volley was 
poured almost into our very faces, and many of our brave boys fell. 
The next minute we cleared the works and jumped right in among 
the rebels. Such a confused mass I never saw, nor expect to see 
again. Here were ofiicers trying to rally their men, there a bat- 
tery trying to limber up, and every-where masses of running reb- 
els — fellows "lighting out" for dear life — and our men popping 
them over as if they were quails. I saw many a poor fellow bayo- 
neted, but it was all fair play. You have no idea of the spirit 
of our troops in making the attack. Every man tried to be first on 
the hill, and such enthusiasm I never saw. It was glorious ! As 
soon as we reached the summit, part of our regiment went for the 
battery, captured it, and. compelled the gunners to work the pieces 
against their own men. The officer in command of the battery shot 



MISSIONARY RIDGE. 509 

two of our men with a revolver, and would not surrender. He 
was quickly shot down. Hazen saw that the rebs on our left still 
held their ground, and were giving Willich some trouble, when he 
ordered our regiment to charge down on their flanks, which we did 
with a yell, and in a short time the whole ridge was cleared. Every 
body seemed crazy with delight, doubling the rebels back and chas- 
ing them in evei-y direction. 

It was now near dark, and the country in front unfamiliar to all 
of us. We bivouacked on the ridge, and built rifle-pits with in- 
trenching tools that Hajien had had loaded in the wagons before 
we started from Orchard Knob. As it afterward proved, this 
labor was superfluous, the rebels continuing a rapid retreat all 
night. Our brigade captured eighteen pieces of artillery, two 
battle-flags, about four hundred prisoners, and any quantity of 
small arms. The rebels did not save a single cannon they had on 
the hill. One gun that we took was marked, " Captured from 
Rosecrans on the 31st of Dec, '63, at Stone River." Ilazen 
(who was with us all the time) and the other generals were all in 
splendid humor, and complimented the troops greatly. Two of 
my company were killed and three wounded, one of my men being 
shot through and through with a solid shot. . . . The Sixth 
Ohio was the first regiment that reached the summit with its flag. 
The First Ohio came up about the same time, but not with its 
flag.* 

* Hundreds of amusing incidents occurred at Mission Ridge, of which 
the following will serve as specimens : 

"I must tell you a good thing that Dick Southgate got oflF just as we 
reached the summit. A Johnny, looking anxiously over his log barricade, 
called out, ' H 'yer, cap'n; I want to surrender — what shall I do?' 'Get 
over them logs to this side,' answered Dick; ^you'll be in the United 
States then!'" — Private Letter. 

"A Dutch boy in Company E, named Johnny , caught sight of five 

rebs peering over the logs, and all apparently aiming at him. ' Surren- 
der, you G — d — d fools,' he shouted, ^ or I'll shoot every one of you!' 



510 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

LIEUTENANT -COLONEL CHRISTOPHER'S OFFICIAL 

REPORT. 

Head-quarters Sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, ) 
Camp near Knoxville, Tenn., December 8, 1863. i 

Captain John Crowell^ Jr.^ Acting Assistant Adjutant-General— 

Sir: I have the honor to report the following as the part taken 
by my command in the engagements of the 23d and 25th of No- 
vember, near Chattanooga. On the afternoon of the 23d, I was 
ordered to take position on the left of the second line of battle, 
and moved forward with the brigade, but took no active part ia 
the fighting. That night we threw up breastworks in our front. 
On the evening of the 24th, the Twenty-third Kentucky, Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Foy commanding, was ordered to report to me ; 
and at dark my command was sent on picket, relieving the One 
Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio. About 10 A. M., on the 25th, 

They caved handsomely, and having made them lay down their guns, 
Johnny gave them in charge of Throop. ' Now, take off all your leather,' 
said that worthy, * and go right down the hill till you meet the provost 
guards. Give yourselves up to them, and you 're all right.' They started 
at once, picking up some of our wounded as they went." — Private Letter. 

"Lieutenant Glisan, Sergeant Critchell, and some more Company A 
boys, with one or two from the First Ohio, turned the captured guns on 
the flying rebels, and used up the few rounds of shot and shell they found 
left in the caissons, in a hurry. Critchell was ' number one,' and somebody 
else, with an old sock wrapped round his thumb, was ' thumb-man.' Ha- 
zen, who had brought his pockets full of friction-primers from the base of 
the ridge, jumped off his horse and helped them sight the guns." — Memo- 
randum. 

" ' Chickamauga ! ' rang through the lines when our men at last closed 
in on them. A rebel captain was captured by a boy of our regiment, and, 
refusing to go to the rear, the boy pushed him up on the breastworks, and, 
with a kick that sent him headlong down the hill, shouted, ^ Chickamanc/a, 
G — d d — n you!' " — Newspaper Paragraph^ from a Sixth Ohio Letter 



MISSIONARY RIDGE. 511 

I was ordered to advance my line, and ascertain what force the 
enemy had in their works at the foot of Mission Ridge. I did 
so ; and, driving the enemy's pickets into the rifle-pits, found that 
only a small force occupied them. The skirmishers of the brigade 
on my left fell back (having been ordered to do so), which obliged 
me to retire my line, and occupy the edge of the woods through 
which I had before passed. At this time Major Erwin was struck 
by a piece of shell, and instantly killed. In the death of this 
valuable officer, the regiment suffered a heavy loss, his bravery 
and efficiency having endeared him to all. Between two and 
three o'clock P. M., my command was relieved by the One Hun- 
dred and Twenty-fourth Ohio, and returned to our line of works. 
[The Twenty-third Kentucky now took its proper place in an- 
other part of the line.] Soon afterward, the Sixth Kentucky, 
Major Whitaker commanding, reported to me, and I was assigned 
a position on the left of the first line of battle. At the signal 
for the advance, the line moved forward, and my regiment gained 
the crest of the ridge with the remainder of the brigade. I am 
pleased to say that every man and officer of my command, without 
exception, did his whole duty. To Major Whitaker, of the Sixth 
Kentucky, I am indebted for the aid he rendered me in the ad- 
vance on the ridge. Attached, I forward a list of the killed, 
wounded, and missing during these engagements. 
I have the honor to be, etc., 

A. C. CHRISTOPHER, 
Lieutenant-Colonel Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, commanding Itegijnent. 

Major Samuel Carrick Erwin, whose name heads the casu- 
alty list of the Sixth Ohio at Missionary Ridge, was born in 
Alleghany County, Penn., on the 21st of April, 1825; but 
for many years prior to the rebellion was a resident of Cin- 
cinnati, where he was engaged in the hat and fur business. 
From his boyhood he evinced a decided taste for military ex- 
ercises; and, when the war broke out, was one of the first to 



512 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

set about raising a company for the Sixth Ohio, as it afterward 
became, having then been a member of the Guthrie Greys 
for several years. His valuable and varied services in the 
field, his Avounding before Corinth, his promotion to the ma- 
jorship of the regiment, and the circumstances of his death, 
have all been related in their proper connections, and nothing 
remains to be added here, save to mention the high and daunt- 
less courage which seemed to render him absolutely incapable 
of fear. "In a regiment where there are no cowards," writes 
one of his brother officers, "Major Erwin's bravery was pre- 
eminent;" and every soldier who knew him, whether in his 
own command or out of it, will attest the justice of this 
tribute. 

CASUALTIES. OF THE SIXTH OHIO. 

The Sixth Ohio advanced under fire, on the 23d of Novem- 
ber, with an aggregate strength of 265 combatants, including 
officers. Of this number there were killed, 5 ; mortally 
wounded, 5 ; wounded, but not mortally, 20 ; and missing, 
5 — making a total of 35, as follows. Nearly all these casual- 
ties occurred on the 25th : 

Field and Staff. — Killed — Major Erwin. 

Company A. — Mortally wounded — Private Edward B. O'Brien, 
Wounded — Sergeant Robert G. Delaney. 

Company B. — Wounded— Yix&t Sergeant George B. Young, and 
privates Henry Kicss and Moses Thauhauser. Missing — Private 
Benjamin F. Lewis. 

Company Q.— Mortally woH^cZec^— Private Wm. Schoch. Wound- 
ed — Sergeant John C. Pope. 

Company J).— Killed— Qox^^ovaX Augustus G. Young, and pri- 
vate Joseph Imm. Mortally loounded — Simon Weeks. Wounded — 
Privates George F. Mosher and Martin Wiederecht. 

Company E. — Wounded — First Sergeant Abram R. Lemmon, 



i 



MISSIONARY RIDGE. 



513 



Corporal Alex. KIgler, and privates George W. Bowen and John 
C. Speidel. 

Company 'E.— Killed — Private Joseph Toomeyer. Wounded— 
Captain Thatcher and Corporal Thomas B. Manning. 

Company G. — Wounded — Private George W. Rush. Missing — 
Corporal George W. J. Miller, and privates Charles Boutwell, 
Wm. W. Garrard, and Wm. B. Rowe (died in rebel prison). 

Company H. — Killed — Private Valentine Merdian. Mortally 
wounded — Private Benjamin Worrell. Wounded — Privates George 
W. Whistler and Joseph Chlor. 

Company I. — Mortalhj icounded — Private Marx Essinger. Woxtnd- 
ed — Corporal Henry Harmyer. 

Company K. — Wounded — Sergeant Wm. S. Squires, and privates 
Charles Warner and Frederick Wehking. 

RECAPITULAflOI^. 







o 
p 

> 


p 



p 

p 


9 
p 



p 


9 



p 

p 


9 

M 



p 


9 





Killed 


1 




J 


2 

1 
2 


... 


1 


... 


1 
1 
2 


1 


3 


5 


Mortally wound'd. 
Wounded 


1 
1 


"3 
1 

4 


1 
1 


5 


4 


2 


1 
4 
5 


?o 






5 


Total 


1 


2 


2 


5 


4 


3 


4 


2 


3 


35 



GENERAL HAZEN'S OFFICIAL REPORT. 

Head-quarters Second Brigade, Third Division, Fourth Army Corps, ) 
In Camp near Knoxville, Tennessee, December 10, 1863. ) 

Assistant Adjutant- General Third Division, Fourth Corps, present — 

Sir: . . . At 12 M., November 23d, I received orders to 
form my brigade near Fort Wood, and hold it in readiness to 
move in the direction of Mission Ridge (south-easterly), with the 
remainder of the division, on a reconnoissance. The position as- 
signed me was on the right of the front line. The brigade was 
formed in five battalions, as follows : 

Pirst Battalion — Colonel Aquila Wiley, Forty-first Ohio Volun- 
33 



514 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

teer Infantry, commanding, was composed of the following regiments, 
namely: Forty-first Ohio, Lieutenant-Colonel R. L. Kimberly ; 
and Ninety-third Ohio, Mnjor William Birch. Second Battalion — 
Colonel W. W. Berry, Fifth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, com- 
manding ; of the Fifth Kentucky, Lieutenant-Colonel J. L. Crainor, 
and Sixth Kentucky, Major R. T. Whitaker. Third Battalion — 
Lieutenant-Colonel E. B. Langdon, First Ohio Volunteer Inftintry, 
commanding ; of the First Ohio, Major J. A. Staiford, and Twenty- 
third Kentucky, Lieutenant-Colonel James C. Foy, Fourth Bat- 
talio)i — Lieutenant-Colonel James Pickands, One Hundred and 
Twenty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, commanding; of the 
One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio, Major J. B. Hampson, 
and Sixth Indiana, Major C. D. Campbell. Fifth Battalion — 
Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Lieutenant-Colonel A. C. Chris- 
topher commanding. In all, 2,256 efiective officers and men. 

The first and third battalions were deployed in the front line, 
and the fourth and fifth were formed in double column in the 
second line. The second battalion was on picket, and in position 
to be used as skirmishers. The whole battalion was deployed as 
such; and, at the sound of the bugle, at 2 P. M., the entire bi'i- 
gade moved forward in exact order, and in two minutes the skir- 
mish line was sharply engaged with that of the enemy, who gave 
ground after firing their pieces, and no considerable opposition 
was afterward felt until we reached their first line of rifle-pits, 
about one-half mile to the rear of their picket-line, where the 
pickets and their reserves endeavored to check our advance ; but, 
pushing forward the first battalion — that being immediately in 
front of their principal force — the work, situated on a rocky hill, 
was carried in the most handsome manner, the regiment which 
was holding it, the Twenty-eighth Alabama, being captured almost 
entire, with their colors. This was not accomplished, however, 
without serious cost to the Forty-first and Ninety-third Ohio. 
Major Birch, leading the latter, fell here ; and, also, eleven of his 
men killed, and forty-eight wounded. The Forty-first Ohio lost 



MISSIONARY RIDGE. 515 

eleven men killed, autl fifty-two wounded. Colonel Wiley and 
Lieutenant-Colonel Kimberly, of that regiment, each had horses 
killed under them ; and Colonel Berry, commanding the skirmish- 
ers, was struck twice. The position was actually carried at the 
point of the bayonet, the enemy being captured behind their work 
by the men leaping over it. During the last half-mile of the ad- 
vance, my right was entirely exposed, and suffered severely from 
an enfilading fire of the enemy. 

The night of the 23d was employed in strengthening our posi- 
tion by works, and the 2-l:th was passed without engaging the 
enemy. 

At about 11 A. M., on the 25th, I was ordered to advance my 
skirmish line sufiiciently to develop the enemy's strength behind 
his main line of breastworks at the foot of Mission Ridge, about 
one mile in our front. This was handsomely done under the im- 
mediate direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher, Sixth Ohio 
Infantry. In this advance, Major S. C. Erwin, Sixth Ohio, was 
killed by a shell, and eight or ten others killed and wounded. 
At about 3 P. M., I received orders to move forward with the 
remainder of the division, take possession of the enemy's works 
at the foot of Mission Ridge, taking cover behind them, and there 
await further orders. The One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio 
was on picket, and used as skirmishers. The other formations of 
battalions were similar to those of the 23d instant, except that 
the Sixth Kentucky, reporting to Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher, 
acted with the fifth battalion, and the Sixth Indiana acted with 
the second. Both lines were deployed — the third and fifth bat- 
talions forming the first line, and the first and second battalions 
the second. At the signal the brigade moved forward, and, simul- 
taneously, a fire from at least fifty pieces of artillery was poured 
upon us from the crest of Mission Ridge. We moved in good 
order, at a rapid step, under this appalling fire, to the enemy's 
-vvorks — which were situated about three hundred yards below, 
and toward Chattanooga from, the crest of the ridge— the enemy 



516 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

fleeing from these works at our approacli. On reacliing the ene- 
my's works at the foot of the hill, the command covered itself, as 
ordered, on the reverse side, as best it could, but very imperfectly, 
because so near, and so much below, the crest of the ridge. The 
musketry fire from the crest was now telling severely upon us, 
and the crest presenting its concavity toward us, we were com- 
pletely enfiladed by artillery from both flanks. The position was 
a singular one, and can be fully understood only by those who 
occupied it. The command had executed its orders, and to re- 
main there till new ones could be sent would be destruction ; to 
fall back would not only be the same, but would entail disgrace. 
On commencing the advance, the thought of storming Mission 
Ridge had not entered the mind of any one, but now the neces- 
sity was apparent to every soldier of the command. Giving the 
men about five minutes to breathe, and receiving no orders, I gave 
the command, " Forward!" which was eagerly obeyed. (The forces 
of General Willich, on my left, had commenced the movement 
somewhat in my advance, and those of Major-General Sheridan, 
on my right, were a considerable distance in my rear. In my 
front were the troops of General Breckinridge, forming the left 
of the enemy's center.) Not much regard to lines could be ob- 
served, but the strong men, commanders, and color-bearers took 
the lead, in each case forming the apex of a triangular column 
of men. These advanced slowly, but confidently — no amount of 
fire from the crest cheeking them. Lieutenant-Colonel Langdon, 
of the First Ohio, gaining a position where the conformation of 
the hill gave cover till within three yards of the crest, formed 
several hundred men there, checking the head for that purpose, 
then gave the command, and the column broke over the crest, the 
enemy fleeing. These were the first men of the entire army on 
the hill ; and my command, moving up with a shout, its entire 
front was handsomely carried. The troops on my immediate left 
were still held in check, and those on my right were not more 
than half-way up the hill, and were being successfully held back. 



MISSIONARY RIDGE. 517 

Hurrying my men to the right and left along the crest, I was 
enabled to take the enemy in flank and reverse; and, by vi"-or- 
ously using the artillery captured there, I soon relieved my neigh- 
bors, and carried the crest within a few hundred yards of Bragg's 
head-quarters, he himself escaping by flight, being at one time 
near my right, encouraging the troops that had checked Sheri- 
dan's left. 

The heroism of the entire command in this engagement merits 
the highest praise of the country. Colonel Aquila Wiley, Forty- 
first Ohio, commanding the first battalion, was shot through the 
leg, making amputation necessary. The loss to the service of this 
officer can not be properly estimated. . . . The services and 
losses of his battalion, composed of the Forty-first and Ninety- 
third Ohio, also stand conspicuous. Lieutenant-Colonel Laugdou, 
First Ohio Infantry, commanding the third battalion, was shot 
through the face just as he had reached the top of the hill; and, 
after lying prostrate from the wound, again moved forward, cheer- 
ing his men. [General Hazen then recommends the promotion 
of Lieutenant-Colonel Langdon, as also of Colonel Wiley, to the 
grade of brigadier-general ; makes honorable mention, and similar 
recommendation, in the case of Colonel Berry, Fifth Kentucky; 
and compliments Lieutenant-Colonel Kimberly for the manner in 
which he led the first battalion after Colonel Wiley's fall.] Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Christopher, Sixth Ohio Infantry, and Lieutenant- 
Colonel Pickands, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio, com- 
manding battalions, rendered valuable and meritorious service. 
[After praising the gallant performances of Corporals Kramer and 
Angelbeck, Company I, Forty-first Ohio, and Sergeant Sutphin, 
Company D, Ninety-third Ohio, and naming six diff"erent officers 
and men who carried the colors of the First Ohio, as they were 
successively shot down, General Hazen proceeds:] The foregoing 
are but a few of the many instances of heroism displayed on this 
occasiou that are worthy of special mention. Major William 
Birch, Ninety-third Ohio, and Major S. C Erwin, Sixth Ohio, 



518 



THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 



who fell while bravely leading their men, were soldiers of rare 
efficiency, and their loss will be severely felt by the service, and 
deeply lamented by their friends. My entire staff, as has always 
been the case in the numerous battles in which they have been 
engaged, conducted themselves with the greatest bravery and use- 
fulness. 

In summing up the operations of the 23d and 25th, I have to 
report the capture of three hundred and eighty-two prisoners, 
besides a large number of wounded; two stands of colors; eight- 
een pieces of artillery, with their appendages [or sixteen pieces, 
without including two that were also claimed by General Willich]; 
six hundred and fifty stand of small arms; eleven loaded wag- 
ons, and a considerable quantity of clothing, camp, and garrison 
equipage. Forty-nine of the enemy, including one colonel, were 
buried by my parties. . . . My entire casualties are as fol- 
lows : 



KEGIMENTS. 



Forty-first Ohio 

Fi f t h K e n tu c ky 

First Ohio 

Sixth Ohio 

One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio 

Twenty-third Kentucky 

8ixtli Indiana 

Ninety-third Ohio 

Sixth Kentucky 



Total , 



3 
4 
1 

30 



17 

8 
10 

5 

5 

9. 
13 
19 



65 

46 
64 
26 
18 
34 
60 
64 
22 



86 



399 



88 
62 
79 
39 
29 
45 
76 
88 
23 



529 



I am, very respectfully, etc. 



W. B. HAZEN, 

Brigadier- General. 



EAST TENNESSEE. 519 



CHAPTER XXXIY. 

EAST TENNESSEE. 

(NOVEMBER 28, 1863-APRIL 16, 1864.) 

I]\I]\IEDIATELY after routing Bragg, and while a portion 
of his army was still engaged in pressing the pursuit almost 
to Tunnel Hill, Grant ordered Granger's corps and General 
Sherman's command (which, at this time, included Howard's 
corps, and Jeff. C. Davis' division of Palmer's corps) to march 
to the relief of Knoxville, with all possible speed. Wood's 
division returned to Chattanooga on the evening of November 
26th, and at 3 P. M., on the 28th, took up its line of march, 
with no baggage, and but one wagon to a regiment. The 
Sixth Ohio and Sixth Kentucky continued in the same "bat- 
talion," under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Cliristoj^her. 
Captains Getty and Southgate, and Lieutenants Meline and 
Lewis, were left at Chattanooga, sick, as was Lieutenant Good- 
nough also, in charge of the regimental baggage. Captain 
Thatcher had been granted leave of absence on account of 
wounds, and Company F, for the next month, was com- 
manded by Lieutenant Kestner. The weather was cold and 
wintry. 

On the 28th, the division marched five miles; on the 29th, 
fourteen miles, crossing the Chickamauga on pontoons, and 
encamping just beyond Harrison ; on the 30th, twenty-four 



520 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

miles, passing through the loyal village of Georgetown; on 
the 1st of December, two miles to the Hiawassee River, over 
which the troops were ferried by the little steamer " Paint 
Rock;" on the 2d, twenty-two miles, through Decatur, and 
eight miles beyond, much of the distance over very bad roads; 
on the 3d, seventeen miles, by a tedious march of fourteen 
hours' duration, to Sweetwater, where the rebels had destroyed 
the bridge over Sweetwater Creek, and the troops crossed, in 
single file, upon logs; on the 4th, fifteen miles, the Sixth 
Ohio passing the night on picket ; on the 5th, fifteen miles, 
crossing the Little Tennessee on a trestle-bridge, and passing 
through Morgantown ; on the 6th, ten miles, passing through, 
and five miles beyond, Marysville, where news was received 
that Longstreet had retreated, and all was well at Knoxville; 
and on the 7th, twelve miles, crossing Little River on a raft- 
bridge, at Rockford, and encamping one and a half miles from 
Knoxville, a short distance outside of Burnside's fortifications. 
Sherman's forces had halted at Marysville, and, in a day or 
two, began retracing their steps toward Chattanooga, but the 
Fourth Corps was ordered to remain in East Tennessee. 
Four miserable months followed. Living from hand to mouth 
on half-rations, or none at all — eked out, or replaced, by such 
scanty supplies as could be gathered in those war-wasted re- 
gions — scarcely half-clad, and most of the time without any 
baggage, even their knapsacks, the troops were kept marching 
and countermarching, in a state of perpetual worry, on account 
of Longstreet's badgerings. The Sixth Ohio's service in East 
Tennessee was attended with more of hardship and privation 
than the regiment ever underwent elsewhere. 

At daylight, on the 12tli of December, the Sixth Ohio went 
on picket, relieving the Twenty-third Kentucky, and passed 
an uncomfortable night in the rain ; on the 13th, was relieved 



EAST TENNESSEE. 521 

by the Ninety-third Ohio; on the 14th, re-arranged camp and 
had battalion drill; on the afternoon of the 15th, marched 
with the division through Knoxville, and three miles beyond ; 
and on the morning of the 16th, by a rapid march of fifteen 
miles, reached Blain's Cross-roads, near which sharp fighting 
was in progress. Lieutenant Blanker was left in Knoxville, 
sick. On the 17th, Hazen's brigade changed camp one mile, 
to a gap in the Clinch Mountains. At 7 P. M., on the 18th, 
the Sixth Ohio was ordered out on picket, and there remained 
for two days, the weather being cold, Avith high winds. ''A 
small lot of clothing was issued the men," says a diary, under 
date of the 20th, "and they are now a little more com- 
fortable. Still no mail for the Sixth Ohio. We might as well 
be in Australia." For several weeks after this date, the ques- 
tion of " veteranizing " was much discussed among all the old 
regiments in East Tennessee, and a considerable number of 
them reenlisted, and went home on thirty days' furlough to 
reorganize. The Sixth Ohio, like its old comrades of the 
Ninth and Tenth, and many other regiments among the best 
in service, decided not to " veteranize." 

The last few days of 1863 were bright and pleasant, but 
the new year came in bitterly cold. Says a diary : " We have 
to hang around our green pine fires so much, in order to keep 
from freezing, that my eyes are completely sore. All hands 
will soon be the color of parchment, by reason of the smoke. 
We are still on two-thirds' rations, the meat part of which is 
princiimlly very lean mutton. No signs of our baggage yet." 
On the 5th of January, Second Lieutenant La Bille — who 
was soon afterward promoted to first lieutenant — rejoined the 
regiment from absence on sick leave, and assumed command 
of Company F, Lieutenant Kestner thereupon taking com- 
mand of Company C. On the 8th — a cold, wintry day — the 



522 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

Sixtli Ohio was on picket on the Cumberkind Gap road; on 
the 10th, it changed camp; and on the 11th received another 
small supply of clothing. On the 14th, the division marched 
seventeen miles, over roads in terrible condition from a sud- 
den thaw, crossing the Holston Eiver, on the railroad bridge, 
at Strawberry Plains. At the latter place, the Sixth Ohio 
was rejoined by Captain Getty, and Lieutenants Meline, Cor- 
many, and Lewis, who had just come up from Chattanooga, 
with a detachment of convalescents and a large wagon train. 
"Wheeler's cavalry attacked their party at Charleston, but were 
handsomely repulsed, with loss. Lieutenant Meline, who had 
lately been promoted to a" first lieutenancy, resumed command 
of Company H, as did Lieutenant Lewis that of Company I. 
On the 15th, Colonel Anderson rejoined the regiment, and the 
same morning the division made a march of eight miles before 
seven o'clock, encamping at Dandridge, a pretty little town 
on the French Broad Eiver. The wagons were sticking in 
the mud all the way back to Strawberry Plains, and many of 
the men had no suppers in consequence. On the evening of 
the 16th, the Sixth Ohio was sent out on reserve picket, skir- 
mishing having been in progress on the front all day. 

"About the hour of retreat on the 17th," says a letter, "the 
rebels attacked our outposts, and, after sharp skirmishing, finally 
drove them. At dark we were notified that a retreat would 
be commenced during the night, and were ordered to destroy 
such articles as we could not carry, but not to burn any thing 
that would make a blaze. Accordingly, I cut up a pair of 
shoes, mashed in a camp-kettle, and threw a gourd-full of soft 
soap on the ground. Expecting every minute to be called into 
line, we did not go to bed at all ; but it took so long to move 
the train, that our brigade did not start until 3 A. M. (on the 
18th). The roads were horrible. A dreary rain soon began 



EAST TENXESSEE. 523 

falling, and our progress was rendered slow and laborious in 
the extreme. Several wagons were burned, as the mules gave 
out. After marching all day, until 5 P. M., we went into 
camp five miles south-east of Strawberry Plains, and fifteen 
miles from Dandridge. Six miles from the latter place, rebel 
cavalry overtook us, and heavy skirmishing ensued. The 
Sixth Ohio was ordered to load, but Avas not actively engaged ; 
nevertheless, three or four of our men were cut off and cap- 
tured. [Among this number were privates Cohagen and Shel- 
ton, of Company K.] The rumor about this movement is, 
that Longstreet's and Ewell's corps are both massed on our 
front, and that our forces at Newmarket, having been driven 
back, we were liable to be flanked, and, perhaps, cut off. 
Take it as a whole, our Dandridge expedition was a miserable 
failure." 

Wood's division, being now ordered to Knoxville, passed 
the next five weeks in guarding the approaches to that place 
from the south, and protecting the railroad toward Loudon. 
On the 19th (of January), it marched eight miles, encamping 
three miles beyond the Strawberry Plains bridge ; on the 20th, 
five miles, or to within nine miles of Knoxville ; on the 21st, 
nine miles, crossing the Holston River on pontoons; and on 
the 23d, ten miles, passing through Knoxville. On the 2-lth, 
the Sixth Ohio marched six miles, to Campbell's Station — 
fourteen miles from Knoxville — and there, during the next 
four days, constructed a stockade fort. On the 27th, Com- 
pany D was sent to garrison Concord^ a little station on the 
railroad, two miles from Campbell's. On the 30th, the regi- 
ment was relieved by a wing of the One Hundred and Twen- 
ty-fourth Ohio ; and, by a march of nine miles, rejoined the 
brigade at Lenoir's Station, on the railroad, where it next day 
began building log-quarters. 



524 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT, 

On the 2d of February, the brigade marched three miles 
toward Knoxville ; then countermarched, and returned to 
Lenoir's. Regular drills were resumed a day or two later, 
but the men were too ragged for dress parade. On the 11th, 
the Sixth Ohio received a portion of its baggage from Chat- 
tanooga, and was thus made a little more comfortable. On 
the 16th, the brigade marched twenty-one miles, or to within 
one and a half miles of Knoxville. The night w^as very cold, 
and wood scarce, excepting green pine. Next morning the 
regiment moved camp, where wood was more jjlenty ; and, 
on the 18th, was sent on picket. Snow began falling soon 
after daylight on the latter date, but the weather was too 
cold for much of a snow-storm. This day. Lieutenant Boice 
rejoined the regiment from duty on the staif of Colonel Grose; 
and on the 19th, Captain Montagnier was honorably dis- 
charged, by order of the War Department, on account of 
physical disability, arising from wounds received in action, as 
Captain Oilman had been also, on the 26th of December, 
1863. Both of the officers whom the Sixth Ohio and the 
service thus had the misfortune to lose, are now living in Cin- 
cinnati. Lieutenant Irwin, who was honorably discharged on 
the 29th of January, also returned to Cincinnati, but is now 
dead. On the 20th of February, the brigade was inspected 
by Lieutenant-Colonel Comstock, of General Grant's staif, and 
the Sixth Ohio was paid for the last two months of 1863. 
On the 22d, after dark, the brigade set out on a rapid march 
to attiick a body of rebels at Shuck's Gap, about twelve miles 
south-east of Knoxville. That night it crossed the Holston, 
and marched four and a half miles; resumed the journey at 
1 A. M., on the 23d, but found the enemy gone, and returned 
at dark, after a hard march of twenty miles. 

Longstreet now being reported falling back toward Vir- 



EAST TENNESSEE. 525 

ginia, a general advance of all the troops about Knoxville 
immediately followed. On the 24th, Wood's division marclied 
nineteen miles, passing through Knoxville; and on the 27th, 
three miles further, to a short distance beyond Strawberry 
Plains. At the latter place, it crossed the Holston on boats, 
the Union troops having destroyed the raih-oad bridge, in or- 
der to retard Longstreet's advance, a month before. On the 
26tli, Major Bense — promoted to that grade during January, 
and now recovered from his wounds — rejoined the regiment, 
as did Lieutenant Blanker also. On the afternoon of the 
28th, the division marched nine miles, passing through, and 
one mile beyond. New Market ; and on the 29th, through a 
cold rain, and over wretched roads, eighteen miles, to Morris- 
tow^n, six miles beyond which place a division of rebel infan- 
try was discovered. On the 2d of jSIarch, it retraced its steps 
a distance of seventeen miles, and went into what proved a 
ten days' camp, near New Market. " Longstreet is again re- 
ported advancing," says an officer's diary, " but I do n't be- 
lieve it. The Army of the Ohio appears to have a great dread 
of him." On the evening of the 5th, the Sixth Ohio was sent 
on picket. 

On the 6th of March, General Hazen started home on leave 
of absence, leaving the brigade in charge of Colonel Ander- 
son, who commanded it to the satisfaction of all for six weeks 
thenceforward. Next day. Lieutenant Goodnough was ap- 
pointed provost marshal of the brigade, being succeeded as 
acting regimental quartermaster by Lieutenant Blanker. The 
latter was promoted to a first lieutenancy in April, and im- 
mediately appointed to the position whose duties he was al- 
ready discharging. On the 8th, the Sixth Ohio received the 
remainder of its baggage from Chattanooga; and on the 11th — 
being then on picket — a partial supply of clothing. On the 



526 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

12th, the division marched thirteen miles, to Panther Springs^ 
and next day five miles further, to Morristown, where desul- 
tory skirmishing was kept up for two or three days. On the 
15th, the Sixth Ohio was detailed for a two days' tour of out- 
post duty, during which the rebels in front fell back. On the 
18th — a windy, March day, with the dust flying in clouds — 
the division made a rapid march of seventeen miles, to New 
Market; on the 19th, ten miles, to within two miles of Straw- 
berry Plains, the Sixth Ohio passing the night on picket ; on 
the 20th, nine miles, leaving Willich's brigade at Strawberry 
Plains ; and on the 21st, nine miles more, to Rutledge. Four 
inches of snow fell on the 22d, but melted next day. On the 
24th, the division marched nine miles, to Powder Spring 
Gap; on the 26th, returned to Rutledge, where the Sixth 
Ohio was immediately sent on picket ; on the 27th, fourteen 
miles — nine miles to Bean's Station (whence the cavalry were 
sent on a reconnoissance six or eight miles further), and a 
countermarch of five miles; and on the 28th, thirteen miles 
back to Powder Spring Gap. On the 3()th, First Sergeant 
Price, of Company G, w^io was captured at Chickamauga, re- 
turned to the regiment, having, several weeks before, succeeded 
in making his escape from Danville, North Carolina, and gaining 
the Union lines in safety at Fayetteville, West Virginia. His 
perilous journey, of between three and four hundred miles, in 
midwinter, through a country swarming with Confederate 
"patrols," consumed twenty-two days — or, rather, nights — 
and led over numerous rivers and creeks and several ranges 
of mountains. At Cincinnati, he was granted thirty days' 
furlough, which, at the date above given, had just expired."^ 

■* Sergeant Price was one of four "Yankee" non-commissioned officers 
sent from Richmond to Danville, for the purpose of distributing Govern- 
ment clothing to eight thousand Union prisoners there confined. His MS. 



EAST TENNESSEE. 527 

On the 1st of April, the brigade was ordered to make a 
recounoissance, and marched nine miles to Rutledge, in the 
rain. Next morning, at daylight, part of the brigade was 
sent out on the Morristown road to the ford over Holston 
River, and another detachment to Bean's Station. The Sixth 
Ohio remained on picket near Rutledge, where the whole bri- 
gade re-assembled during the afternoon, without having seen 
any enemy. On the 3d, the brigade returned to l*o\vder 
Spring Gap, nine miles distant ; and next day learned that 
Bull's Gap, an important position eighteen miles beyond 
Morristown, had been occupied by Union troops. Longstreet's 
withdrawal from East Tennessee was now an assured certainty. 
The long orphaned Fourth Corps was at once ordered to 
rejoin the Army of the Cumberland ; and, with many a 
" Thank God, we are leaving East Tennessee ! " turned its 
footsteps toward Chattanooga. 

On the 6th of April, Wood's division marched eleven miles, 
encamping two miles from Strawberry Plains, and received a 
farewell order from General Schofield, thanking it for its sol- 
dierly deportment and valuable service while on duty in the 
Department of the Ohio ; on the 7th it marched nineteen miles, 
passing through Knoxville and three miles beyond ; on the 
8th, eight miles toward Loudon; on the 9th, thirteen miles, 
to Lenoir's, the roads being in very bad condition from an 
all-night's rain; and on the 10th, seven miles, to Loudon, 

narrative is one of exceeding interest— a model of circumstantiality, direct- 
ness, and candor — and it is with great regret, therefore, that the writer 
finds himself compelled, by lack of space, to abandon his original design 
of giving it in full in Part II. Private Adam Rohe, of Company B, who 
was captured on the 18th of September, 1863, made his escape about the 
same time, from Salisbury, passed himself off as one of John Morgan's 
men, and finally struck the Union lines at a point somewhere above Knox- 
ville. 



528 THE STORY OF A RfiGIMENT. 

wliere three battalions of Anderson's (Hazen's) brigade were 
that evening ferried across the Holston on scows, the remain- 
der of the division following as rapidly as possible during the 
next two days. On the morning of the 12th, Lieutenant- 
Colonel Crainor's battalion and the Sixth Ohio started to the 
railroad, to take cars for Cleveland, but found the trains just 
withdrawn from that portion of the road, for service in accu- 
mulating supplies at Chattanooga. Resuming its journey at 
daylight on the 13th, the division that day marched thirteen 
miles, to Sweetwater, where the Sixth Ohio was sent on picket; 
on the 14th, eleven miles, to Athens; on the 15th, fifteen miles, 
to near Charleston, crossing the Hiawassee on a pontoon bridge; 
and on the 16th, sixteen miles, passing through Cleveland, and 
six miles beyond, to Drumgold's Gap, where it enjoyed several 
days of needed rest. The Sixth Ohio was left at " Tucker's 
Gap," four and a half miles west of Cleveland, and about the 
same distance from McDonald's Station, on the railroad to 
Chattanooga. 



CLEVELAND, RESACA, HOME, AND MUSTER-OUT. 529 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

CLEVELAND, RESACA, HOME, AND MUSTER-OUT. 

(APRIL 17-JUNE 23, 1864.) 

OPRING had now returned in all its beauty and freshness, 
^ and the sixteen days which the Sixth Ohio passed at 
Tucker's Gap were pleasant onps indeed. On the evening of 
the 17th of April, the band of Colonel Grose's brigade (now 
in Cruft's division of Palmer's corps) visited the camp of the 
Sixth Ohio, and music and good-fellowship ruled the hour. 
On the 18th, Colonel Anderson resumed command of the rejri- 
ment, General Hazen having returned to that of the brigade, 
and on the same day dress parade was held for the first time 
since before the battle of Missionary Ridge. Drills were also 
resumed. On the 19th, the promotions were announced of 
Captain West (still on duty with the Pioneer Corps), and First 
Lieutenants Graham and Lewis, all of whom were re-assigned 
to their old companies. Captain Shieffer, also promoted, re- 
joined the regiment on the 25th, and relieved Lieutenant 
Glisan of the command of Company A. At the date last 
given. Colonel Grose paid the Sixth Ohio a visit, and in accord- 
ance with department orders, a regimental pioneer corps was 
organized, composed of one sergeant, one corporal, and eight- 
teen privates, under command of Lieutenant Goodnough. On 
the 29th, the division was reviewed by General Howard, the 
34 



530 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

new commander of the Fourth Corps, and a grand spectacle 
was presented to the lookers-on. 

On the 2d of May, in obedience to orders, the baggage of 
the entire division was sent to Bridgeport, each regiment being 
allowed to retain but one wagon for transportation. Sher- 
man's elaborate preparations being completed, his magnificent 
army of one hundred thousand veteran troops was now strip- 
ping for the campaign against Atlanta, and, as it proved, for 
the march to the sea. Quartermaster-Sergeant Hannaford, 
with Charles D. Martindale — long the prompt and efficient 
clerk at regimental head-quarters — accompanied the Sixth 
Ohio's baggage to the rear, and had the care of it until it was 
again brought to the regiment. On the 3d, the Sixth Ohio 
changed camp four and a half miles to Cleveland, which — in 
conjunction with the Twenty-fifth Illinois, another regiment 
whose term of service had almost expired — it was ordered to 
garrison, while the remainder of the division marched against 
the enemy ensconced behind Rocky Face Ridge. Colonel 
Anderson, as ranking officer, assumed command of the post. 
On the 7th, a supply of clothing — enough, at last, for every 
need — was issued the men, and the condition of the regiment 
was now most excellent in every respect. Captain Southgate, 
after a service of some months in charge of a convalescent camp 
at Chattanooga, rejoined the regiment at this date, and relieved 
Lieutenant Kestner of the command of Company C. On the 
8th, the troops received intelligence of the occupation of Tun- 
nel Hill, and the enemy's retrograde movements beyond. On 
the 12th, Major Bense was sent with a detachment to Red 
Clay, to look after some guerrillas reported to be lurking in 
that vicinity. Next day Colonel Anderson received a dispatch 
announcing the occupation of Dalton, and on the 16th another, 
bringing similar tidings from Resaca. 



CLEVELAND, RESACA, HOME, AND MUSTER-OUT. 531 

The regiment was now counting by clays the brief period 
which it yet had left to serve, and expected to remain at Cleve- 
land until sent home for muster-out, but on the 17th march- 
ing orders came. It started for the front at once, marching 
that day nine miles. Captain Schieffer, still unfit for field 
service, was obliged to go to Chattanooga. On the 18th, the 
regiment marched twenty miles to Dalton ; on the 19th, six- 
teen miles to a short distance beyond Resaca ; on the 20th, 
twelve miles, passing through Calhoun ; and on the 21st, six- 
teen miles to Kingston, where the Ninth Ohio was met on its 
way home. Reporting immediately to General Thomas, Colo- 
nel Anderson was ordered to return to Resaca, there to remain 
until June 6th, when the regiment would be "relieved from 
duty in the Department of the Cumberland, in order to pro- 
ceed to Ohio for muster-out of the service." On the 22d, the 
regiment accordingly took cars for Resaca, where, with the 
First and Second Kentucky, it established camp on the west 
bank of the Oostanaula, to guard the railroad bridge at that 
point. On the 23d, the Tenth Ohio passed up, on its way home. 
The First Kentucky followed on the 29th, and the Second 
Kentucky five days later. Other troops, however, were con- 
tinually moving toward the front, so that Sherman's flanking 
operations were still being prosecuted with as yet undiminished 
numbers. 

The return of detailed men daily swelled the regiment's 
ranks, and by the 6th of June its aggregate of present for duty 
amounted to about four hundred and thirty men, exclusive of 
officers. The last promotions ever made in it were announced 
on the 29th of May, Lieutenant Choate becoming captain of 
Company B, which he had commanded since Chickamauga, 
and Second Lieutenant Cormany first lieutenant in Company 
G. Sergeant- Major Mellen, and private William C. Perkins, 



532 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

of Company G, held commissions as second lieutenants for 
months, but could not muster, because the regiment was below 
the legal minimum strength. The same regulation prevented 
the Quartermaster-Sergeant and several of the first sergeants 
from returning home as commissioned officers, though in no 
capacity could they have discharged a soldier's whole duty 
with greater fidelity or acceptance than in the grades which 
they actually held. 

At 7 A. M., on the 6th of June, the Sixth Ohio took cars 
for Chattanooga and turned its face toward home — yes, toward 
Home ! Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher had previously gone 
forward to secure transportation, etc., and met the regiment at 
Cincinnati. At Chattanooga a halt was made, to draw cloth- 
ing, have- the camp and garrison equipage condemned, transfer 
a squad of orphaned recruits to the proper authorities to serve 
out their full term of three years in other commands, and com- 
plete whatever else was necessary to do before returning home. 
There also the regiment was rejoined by Captain Thatcher, just 
relieved from four months' able service as Judge Advocate of 
a department court-martial, and who now relieved Lieutenant 
La Bille, of the command of Company F ; by Captain West, 
whose long and useful connection with the Pioneer Corps was 
now terminated ; by Lieutenant Holmes, who had been paroled 
in February and exchanged a short time before this date ; and 
also by Captain SchiefFer. Surgeon Stephens, being relieved 
from duty as brigade surgeon late in May, met the regiment 
on its arrival in Cincinnati, as did Lieutenant Peck also, for 
the first and last time leaving his trains in other hands. Cap- 
tain Sheridan, on duty with the Signal Corps since Camp 
Wickliife times, had been severely wounded in the fighting at 
Hesaca, and was barely able to be brought in a carriage to 
greet the regiment's return at Cincinnati ; while Captain Tin- 



CLEVELAND, RESACA, HOME, AND MUSTER-OUT. 533 

ker, then as for many months afterward, was confined to his 
cot, a helpless sufferer from the Chickamauga wound which 
has made him a cripple for life. Lieutenant Morris, relieved 
from duty as acting inspector-general of the post at Gallatin, 
did not rejoin the regiment until three days before its muster- 
out. 

Proceeding by rail to Nashville, the Sixth Ohio took pas- 
sage on the steamer Lady Franklin for Cincinnati, where 
friends were preparing such a " welcome home " as should 
justly express the city's pride in the record which its battle- 
thinned ranks had made during three years' constant service 
at the front. Its reception in Cincinnati, on the 15th of June, 
was an ovation wdiose proud and happy memories none of its 
survivors will ever forget. The regiment was met at North 
Bend by the steamers Swallow and Duke of Argyle, loaded 
with friends, and each having a band of music on bpard. The 
boats were lashed together, the Lady Franklin in the center, 
and the joyful reunions that the next hour numbered may 
be imagined, but never described. At Cincinnati several 
thousand people had gathered on the landing, and the streets 
through which the regiment was to pass were lined with thou- 
sands more, and brilliant with flags and other decorations. 
The regiment disembarked, formed as rapidly as the density 
of the crowd would permit, and, escorted by detachments of 
the Eleventh Ohio and other military bodies, with various 
civic dignitaries in carriages, marched to Pike's Opera House, 
where it was formally welcomed home in a speech by Colonel 
Stanley M. Matthews. Colonel Anderson replied briefly on 
behalf of the regiment, and the hungry men then proceeded 
to Melodeon Hall to partake of the banquet that fair hands 
had there provided them ; which done, they were dismissed to 
the enjoyment of home and friends. Re-assembling as soon as 



534 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

the muster-out rolls, etc., could be prepared, the regiment went 
to Camp Dennison, where, on the 23d of June (1864), it was 
mustered out of the United States service, with an aggregate 
strength of 532, including thirty commissioned officers, or a 
fraction more thaii one-half the number with which it left the 
same camp just one week less than three years before. 

A considerable number of the Sixth Ohio afterward enlisted 
in the gunboat service and in Hancock's corps, and several ob- 
tained commissions in other new regiments. A majority of the 
officers, together with about one-half of the enlisted men, are 
now living in Cincinnati. Upon the strong recommendations of 
Thomas, Wood, and other of the Sixth Ohio's old commanders in 
the field, Colonel Anderson has lately been brevetted Brigadier- 
General "for gallant conduct and meritorious services in the 
battle of Stone River," and Major-General "for distinguished 
gallantry and meritorious conduct in the battle of Chickamau- 
ga," both to date from March 13, 1865. Lieutenant-Colonel 
Christopher is in the United States revenue service, and Cap- 
tain Tinker, who deserves much more, holds a clerkship at the 
court-house. ISIajor Bense, Captains Russell, Getty, Donovan, 
West, and Schieffer, and Lieutenants Kestner and Reynolds 
are all engaged in business in Cincinnati. Adjutant Throop 
-^brevetted major in 1865 — is practicing law on Third Street, 
with well-earned success. Lieutenant Cormany, who is also 
practicing law, declined a captain's commission which was 
tendered him in Hancock's corps, and afterward received the 
brevet of major. Captains Southgate and Choate, and Lieu- 
tenant Graham are likewise in Cincinnati. 

Captain Thatcher is in the express business at Nashville, and 
Captain Sheridan, still on the stage — for some time past at 
Washington. Lieutenant Meline was commissioned captain 



CLEVELAND, EESACA, HOME, AND MUSTER-OUT. 535 

ip the Second Regiment of United States Veteran Volunteers 
(Hancock's Corps), in August, 1864, and remained in service 
until April, 1866. He was for some time commissary of sub- 
sistence for the brigade to which his regiment belonged, after- 
ward personal aid to Major-General Francis Fesscnden, of the 
First Division, First Army Corps, and for six months was in 
command of Fort Porter, at Buffalo, New York. The well- 
merited brevet of major has been conferred upon him, "for 
gallant and meritorious conduct during the war." He is now 
engaged in the Treasury Department at Washington. Dr. 
Stephens, as before the war, is practicing medicine at Eaton, 
and Dr. Bedell, at Cardington, Ohio. Quartermaster Slanker 
is traveling agent for the oldest "native wine" house in Cin- 
cinnati. Lieutenant Holmes went East in the spring of 1868, 
and there remains on business. Lieutenant Morris, at latest 
advices, was in Nashville ; Peck, in Omaha ; Lewis, in Wash- 
ington, and La Bille, in Elizabethport, New Jersey. Of the 
whereabouts of Lieutenants Goodnough, Boice, and Glisan, 
the writer can give no information. 

Of the old commanders of the Sixth Ohio who are still in 
gex'vice. General Hazen — after a brilliant career during the last 
year of the war under Sherman — is colonel of the Thirty- 
eighth Infantry; Reynolds, colonel of the Twenty-sixth In- 
fantry, and Crittenden, colonel of the Thirty -second Infantry. 

A careful computation shows that the total distance marched 
by the Sixth Ohio, was about 3,275 miles (more, rather than 
less), without including a vast amount of picket duty, foraging 
expeditions, and other service, on which only portions of the 
regiment were engaged, and which aggregate an average of from 
one thousand to twelve hundred miles more for each company. 
To these numbers are to be added about 2,650 miles as the dis- 



536 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

tance which the regiment traveled by steamboat and rail- 
road. 

In the four pitched battles in which the Sixth Ohio took 
part, it lost, in killed, wounded, and missing, a total of 315 
officers and men. Omitting the battle of Shiloh, this shows 
an avei-age loss in each battle of about thirty-two per cent, of 
the number with which it went into action. It also partici- 
pated in a number of skirmishes and minor engagements, sus- 
taining several casualties in addition to the above. 

The business training and clerkly capacity of a large propor- 
tion of the men in the ranks were the occasion of heavy details 
for duty in the Quartermaster's, Commissary, and other staff 
departments of the army, and very materially reduced its ag- 
gregate of present for duty during the greater portion of its 
term of service. 

The healthfulness of the Sixth Ohio is a feature in its his- 
tory of which every member of the regiment has just reason 
to be proud. In its entire period of service — three years and 
five days — it lost only sixteen men by disease, as follows : 
Companies B, E, G, and I, each one ; Companies A, F, and K, 
each two; Companies C and D, each three, and Company H, 
none. At least two hundred men in the ranks never lost a 
day's duty. Such a showing as this could probably be made 
on behalf of no other regiment that served during the war of 
the great rebellion. 



Part 1 1. 



THE STOET OF A KEGIMENT. 



CHEAT MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNING. 

THE MARCH TO CHEAT MOUNTAIN. 

C.oip Elkwater, September 21, 1861. 

" Two days' rations in haversacks, and march at four in the 
morning," was the sententious order of the adjutant to the lieu- 
tenant in command, on the evening of the 12th iust. . . . We 
took a narrow path up the mountains, impassable for horses, and 
of so steep a grade as to make it fatiguing in the extreme to men. 
You can form no idea of these mountain passes. A slippery path, 
winding around a hill-side, obstructed by huge boulders and fallen 
trees, and so steep that you can hardly stand erect on it ; rendered 
inaccessible to the sunshine by the immense chestnut, oak, pine, 
and ash trees that overshadow it, and fringed by a thick under- 
growth of laurel, elder, sassafras, and hazel-bushes — six or seven 
miles of this is enough to dampen the military ardor of almost any 
one ; but, like the man who carried the calf until it grew to be an 
ox, we have got accustomed to it. 

Reaching the summit of the mountain, we discovered that the 
rebels were at their old game. The bushes were covered with 
blankets, and, in short, every other species of military toggery, 
of the very inferior materials with which the secessionists are 
equipped. The path, though devious, was easy enough to follow 
after that, for it was literally covered with clothing. A rapid 
trot down hill soon brought us into a pleasant little valley, near 
the center of which stood a lonely log-house, now deserted by its 
former tenants. Standing in groups around it was the Second 
Virginia Regiment, Colonel Moss, which had preceded us on the 
journey, having left Beverly the night previous, without a blanket 

(539) 



540 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

for cover, or even a " sheet-iron cracker " for sustenance. The 
former want they had supplied from the plunder left by the rebels, 
and the latter was liberally met by our boys from their haver- 
sacks. 

A sbort rest — which the boys improved by attacking a row of 
bee-hives, bringing out the bees and scattering the "forlorn hope" 
that had made the assault — and we again started through the 
forest. An hour's climbing brought us to the base of a clearing, 
where a skirmish had taken place the day before, and where it 
was supposed the enemy was in position to receive us. The ap- 
proach was made with great caution — our three companies, which 
wei'e in the advance, being deployed as skirmishers, with the Third 
Ohioans as a reserve. Stealthily the men crept up the abrupt ac- 
clivities to the right and left of us, while another company made 
the advance in front. The summit reached, nothing unusual was 
to be seen — a log-house, an orchard, and the surroundings of a 
Virginia mountaineer's home, were nothing to be astonished at. 
Not a gray coat was visible, much to the chagrin of the men. Ap- 
proaching the house, we were met by a Fourteenth Indiana man, 
who came limping along, overjoyed at discovering that friends 
were at hand. He had been shot through the thigh with a squir- 
rel-rifle ball, and taken prisoner by the rebels in the skirmish of 
the previous day. With tears in his eyes, he informed us that 
the rear-guard of the enemy had left there but an hour before, 
and were retreating by the Stewart's Run road ; that they had been 
informed of our approach and dared not risk an engagement ; and 
that their men were almost starved and were so much fatigued that 
their officers could not control them, and were forced to follow the 
men, who had decided to retreat. 

We entered the house. Another such scene I fervently hope I 
never may see. Lying upon the floor of the only room in the 
cabin were seven wounded rebels, left there by their fleeing com- 
rades. Two' sick men had been left to care for them, which they 
were either not able or unwilling to do, so that the whole burden 
fell upon a poor woman, who, with her five children, were tenants 
of the hut. Her husband, a zealous secessionist, had been taken 
prisoner. He was punished, and properly enough ; but what crime 
had the innocent children committed, and the poor mother, in that 
lonely mountain glen? She moved about with that quiet, noise- 
less step so peculiar to intense sorrow, handing this one water, 



CHEAT MOUNTAIX CAMPAIGNING. 541 

bathing that one's aching temples, and attending to her household 
duties. The children stood about the horrid scene — the elder ones 
in mute despair, the younger prattling away unconscious of the 
terrors of helium^ Jwrridum helium! May He who is the Father 
of all, extend the aegis of his protection over that desolate house- 
hold. 

My reflections were disturbed by the bugle sounding " the as- 
sembly," and shouts of "forward!" and in a few moments the 
column was again moving through the woods and up the hill. An- 
other wearisome march, the details of which would be but a rep- 
etition of the description of the former, brought us nearly to the 
summit of Cheat Mountain. We found the troops stationed at the 
fortifications on the summit in a very healthy state of mind for a 
fight — momentarily expecting an attack from the enemy, who was 
menacing their front with a supposed force of five thousand men. 
We bivouacked that night just Ijelow the Twenty-fourth Ohio, and 
next morning started for home. — " J. J. M." to Cincinnati Daily 
Press. 



A NOTABLE SCOUTING ADVENTURE. 

[Of the numerous scouting expeditions undertaken by Corporal, afterward 
Captain, H. C. Choate and private James Martin, during the West Virginia 
campaign, the most famous is tliat referred to in Chapters IX and X. Martin 
was one of a detachment of Swiss, recruited at Tell City, Indiana, which be- 
came incorporated with Company I, of the Sixth Ohio, and was a young man 
of good education, great personal gallantry, and more than ordinary force of 
character. His account of the scout in question is as follows :] 

Gaaip Wagner [Elkwater], Va., 1 
September — ,1861. J 

Our captain, with forty-two men, was ordered to an important 
post up Stewart's Run, in order to take possession of the valley. 
The following day four of us were ordered out to reconnoiter. 
We were gone all day, but discovered no traces of the enemy, and 
in the evening returned to our captain. The next morning, in 
company with Corporal Choate and John McGlore, two daring 
men, I started out again, with the object of ascertaining the 
situation of the valley and the whereabouts of the enemy. We 
took with us a compass, spy -glass, and two days' rations. The 
first night we bivouacked on the mountain. It rained very hard, 
yet we dared not make a fire, on account of being so near the 



642 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

enemy. The next morning, whicli was densely foggy, we started 
down the west side of the mountain, at the foot of which we came 
upon a farm. There we found fresh tracks of men, horses, and 
mules, and also biscuits and corn scattered upon the ground. As 
we approached the house, we saw three horses and one mule, all 
beautifully saddled. There were also some of the enemy's sol- 
diers busily engaged in drying red blankets, and in making 
preparations to march. We were in hopes of making a good 
"haul," and went straight toward the house. As soon as the 
soldiers entered the house, I made haste with my comrade Choate, 
leaving McGlore as an outpost fifteen paces from the house. We 
saw some one look from a side door toward us, and, at the same 
time, I made signs toward the neighboring woods, as if I wished to 
call more comrades from thence. A man now came out of the 
house and asked to what regiment and division we belonged. I 
replied : " To the Sixth Ohio ! We are here to take you prisoners 
or to kill you!" I placed my bayonet to his breast, and threat- 
ened, at the least movement, to run him through. Two shots 
were fired out of the house at Choate, but without taking effect. 
The powder of the first shot burned his hair and eyebrows. We 
ordered our prisoner to call the others out of the house, and to tell 
them that, if they did not comply immediately, he would be killed, 
and all that were in the house would be massacred. He called 
loudly, " For God's sake. Dr. Jones, please come out !" At the 
same time two soldiers ran swiftly through a back door, down the 
mountains, and made for the woods. A man, dressed as a lieu- 
tenant-colonel, now came very quietly from the house, and said : 
"You are men, and, I doubt not, also gentlemen, and will treat us as 
such. I am your prisoner." We very politely gave him in charge 
of our outpost (McGlore) near the fence. Then two more made 
their appearance, one badly frightened, and the other wearing a 
stubborn countenance. These, also, we handed over to our outpost. 
Then we cried : 

"Out with the one who shot!" 

"0 God ! spare the man in the house!" 

"They will kill me !" he cried. 

"No," said I to him. "You shot twice at my companion ; yet, 
•when the lives of your comrades were in my hand, I spared them 
because they were unarmed. We fight for the sake of a principle, 
■without any personal animosity." 



CHEAT MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNING. 543 

After the lieutenant-colonel had called him again, he came out, 
pale and trembling. Choate took his pistol from him, with these 
words: "Sir, you shoot badly. I can use this better." On ques- 
tioning the prisoners, we learned that there were two more lying in 
bed, under the pretense of being sick. We did not molest them. 
Our prisoners were two officers, two surgeons, and one private. 
The latter told me that three and a half regiments had left their 
camps to attack our forces, and that, by this time, they must be 
between us and our camp. 

We took from our prisoners their swords and revolvers, but, 
being unable to carry their muskets, we left them, after having 
taken off their locks. As we marched our captives toward our 
camp, we soon found traces of the enemy, and learned from a lady 
that they had passed two hours before. We treated our prisoners 
well, only urging them forward, and had told them to mount their 
horses. After traveling six or seven miles, we came to the place 
where our pickets had been stationed the day previous. Leaving 
the prisoners in charge of my companions, I advanced to obtain 
some information of our pickets, and found that the secessionists 
occupied our posts. Inquiring at a neighboring house, I ascer- 
tained that our four men stationed near there had been taken 
prisoners. The enemy were close upon our heels from behind, 
their pickets were before us, and the mountains were on our right 
and left. It was necessary to give up our prisoners and seek our 
own safety. The lieutenant-colonel gave us his word of honor 
that he would send us free and unmolested to our camp if we were 
taken with him ; but we feared that we should be questioned too 
much, and that the general would not allow the lieutenant- 
colonel's promises to be kept. Moreover, we should have been 
compelled to give up our own arms, together with those that we 
had taken from our prisoners. We had no wish to return to 
camp in such a humiliating condition. Thanking the lieutenant- 
colonel for his kindness, we told him that we preferred to run 
the risks of getting safely back ourselves. "Well," said he, 
"you are brave boys. You have treated us well. Give me your 
names, your regiment, and company. Should you or your com- 
tades fall into our hands, be assured we shall treat you as well a» 
you have treated us. Give me your hands, and let us hope to 
meet in peace." 

Thus we parted, as though we were the best of friends. We 



54:4 THE STORY OF A EEGIMEXT. 

sprang into the bushes — it was high time — ascended the mount- 
ain, and secreted ourselves behind fallen trees, within reach of 
the enemy's shots, had they discovered us. We were in hopes 
that our brave captain would be timely reenforced, and would 
drive the enemy back. If they had retreated, we could have given 
them a warm reception from our hiding-place. We heard several 
shots, and then all was quiet. It was now about noonday. 

After much fatigue and danger, we came, half-famished, to the 
outposts of the Twenty-fourth Ohio Regiment. The boys gave us 
meat, crackers, etc.- — just what we needed after living upon a 
quarter of a pound of crackers and raw rice for several days. 
From thence we marched to Camp Kimball, one mile further, on 
the Cheat River. Colonel Kimball had us called to himself, and, 
after having partaken of a good drink of whisky, we gave him the 
particulars of our expedition. There we heard the sad news that 
our captain, together with nearly all his men, had been surrounded 
by two regiments and taken prisoners. Colonel Kimball wished 
us to remain with him. Choate did remain, but McGlore and I 
decided to return to our own regiment. I was anxious to obtain 
some definite intelligence in regard to the fate of our brave little 
captain and my fellow-soldiers. As the Thirteenth Indiana was 
about to march toward our camp, we joined them, and reached our 
destination at nine o'clock Friday, after a march of eighteen miles. 

It was now the fifth day and fourth night since we had left our 
company. My hands, face, and feet were torn with thorns, like- 
wise my clothing and shoes, and my limbs were very weary ; still, 
my courage was fresh, my musket bright, and my powder dry. At 
camp they all thought us either prisoners or killed. We had been 
dropped from the roll-book for three days. You can imagine how 
we were received by those who were left of Company I, especially 
after we related our story, showed the arms of the nine prisoners 
captured by us, and informed them of the assurance of the 
lieutenant-colonel that our men would be treated as gentlemen. 

[Corporal Choate was retained as one of Colonel Kimball's 
scouts for several weeks. He became well known to the various 
regimental commanders at the Summit, as well as to General 
Reynolds, and was much trusted in all matters pertaining to his 
peculiar service.] 



CHEAT MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNING. 545 



THE COURT-MARTIAL OF STALNAKER 

Camp Elkwater, Va., Nov. 18, 1861. 

Incessant rains tave rendered drills out of the question ; and, 
consequently, every possible device is resorted to by our boys to 
dispel the ennui of camp life. Many ludicrous scenes occur daily. 
One transpired yesterday worthy of mention, and, although I am 
positive that the "nub" will be lost by recital, I attempt it. 

We have some queer specimens of the gerius homo among us, 
and the most remarkable is one Staluaker, an F. F. V., who has 
rendered himself particularly obnoxious to the boys by his 
avaricious propensities. Our good wives and mothers would 
laugh at the idea of giving one dollar for a single head of cabbage 
or a chicken ; but we have been compelled to patronize Staluaker 
notwithstanding these exorbitant rates. 

Our laws are stringent in regard to furnishing soldiers with 
liquor, and yesterday Staluaker was detected in the act of selling 
two bottles of liquor to some soldiers. He was accordingly 
arrested and placed in the guard-house. Major Christopher having 
no doubt of his guilt, ordered him to be drummed out of camp ; but 
some waggish officer hearing of it, persuaded the Major to try 
Staluaker before a mock court-ouartial, and it was forthwith con- 
vened. The august body consisted of Captain Clarke, Lieutenants 
Southgate, Getty, Russell, and Judge Advocate Captain S. C. 
Erwiu. Captain Wilmington acted as prosecutor, and Sergeant 
Throop as counsel for defendant. 

Every thing being arranged, the prisoner was ushered in, evi- 
dently badly frightened. 

Captain Wilmington arose and accused him of having been 
guilty of treason, by attempting to seduce from their allegiance 
certain soldiers by offering them bad whisky. 

The prisoner pleaded "not guilty," and sutler Andy Hall was 
called to the stand as witness for the prosecution, whereupon the 
following oath was administered : 

" You do solemnly swear that you will not scruple to testify to 
any thing which may tend to convict the prisoner, as you hope for 
the success of the Southern Confederacy." 

Witness clearly convicted the prisoner of selling the liquor to 
soldiers, and then went on to state many ridiculous things that 
35 



546 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

Lad never transpired, among which were that he had just received 
a telegram from his partner, Mr. Cobb, then in Grafton, saying 
that Staluaker had obtained a ten-gallon demijohn of whisky from 
him, and that he (Cobb) had dreamed that Stalnaker was retailing 
the whisky to soldiers at fifteen cents a glass. A bogus dispatch 
was produced. The judge asked Hall if he could identify his 
partner's signature by telegraph, and 'upon his replying promptly 
that he could, the court looked very grave and appeared satisfied. 

The prisoner was naturally astonished at this strange news, and 
protested that he was innocent, but the judge advocate shook his 
head and remarked that the affair began to look serious. 

The witness then accused the prisoner of having a large amount 
of Confederate scrip in his possession, and upon his producing his 
pocket-book in order to refute the charge, he was reprimanded for 
attempting to bribe Captain Andrews to swear for- him! Andrews 
taking the stand, testified that Stalnaker had given him five dollars 
to swear to a few things, but that his conscience reproached him. 

Counsel for defendant then demanded that the money be re- 
turned. This had not been anticipated by the captain, and as he 
did not happen to have five dollars in gold, he produced a two-and- 
a-half piece. This was handed to the prisoner for identification, 
and in a bewildered manner he asserted that it was his five- 
dollar piece. Captain Andrews again got possession of the money, 
and changed it to a one-dollar piece. Stalnaker, at the instigation 
of his counsel, still claimed the money as his own, apparently not 
seeing the impossibility of a five-dollar gold piece dwindling into a 
dollar. 

Lieutenant Royse next testified to the good character of the 
defendant, but upon being cross-examined confessed that the 
extent of his knowledge was derived from having bought several 
fowls of Miss Stalnaker. Witness was closely questioned as to the 
character of these transactions, and then dismissed upon the plea 
that his long association with the Cincinnati police court (as clerk) 
had rendered him unreliable. 

By this time the prisoner was crying, and the court removed 
him. After the lapse of a few minutes he was again brought in, 
and sentence passed upon him, which was that he should be hung 
or shot, as he saw fit, and then drummed out of camp ! The court 
not seeing clearly how the drumming out was to be accomplished 
after the shooting and hanging, decided to drum him out first, and 



CHEAT MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNING. 547 

enforce the rest of the sentence should he ever return to camp. 
The drummers and fifers were called out, and Mr. Stahiaker left 
camp to the inspiring tune of the " Eogue's March," his pace 
quickened by two bayonets.— "iVmo" to the Cincinnati Com- 
viercial. 



"SKEDADDLE"— now DID THE TERM ORIGINATE? 

The term "skedaddle," which came into general use durin"- 
the war, and must henceforth have a place in every "Dictionary 
of Americanisms," was first employed at the siege of Laurel 
Hill, so-called. Many of the Indiana skirmishers were reckless 
backwoodsmen, not half disciplined, yet unrivaled in their favorite 
exercise of bush fighting. Whether they found the need of a 
more forcible and homely word than any of the customary 
military phrases to describe the retrograde movements of the 
rebels, whether their ears naturally abhorred the tautological 
repetition of those phrases, or from whatever other whim it may 
have been, "skedaddle" had, as it were, a spontaneous origin in 
the mouth of these men. To any one who knows among what 
classes the word first gained currency, the attempts of learned 
scholars to trace it to a Greek root must seem a ludicrous waste 
of erudition. Nor is there the least reason, apparently, for be- 
lieving that it has any affinity with the phrase "sgeadol ol," 
found in an old Irish New Testament, in a passage which our 
modern version renders "shall all be scattered," as has been 
suggested, in connection with the hypothesis that some facetious 
Hibernian first coined the word in his descriptions of the rout of 
the Union Army at Bull Run. In regard to the latter idea, it is 
enough to say that thousands are now living who can testify that 
"skedaddle" was in common use among the Indiana troops at 
Laurel Hill two weeks before the date of that battle. E. II. 



548 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 



TRAINING UNDER NELSON. 

A PRIVATE'S DIARY.— (Extracts.) 

DECEMBER 9th, 1861.— Marcliing orders this evening. We 
are in the division of General Nelson, a very unpopular com- 
mander. Have been sick for three days. 

December 10th. — Reveille at 4 A. M. Felt a little better, and 
determined to accompany the regiment if possible. Got permis- 
sion to go with the train. Mike Coleman let me strap my knap- 
sack on behind his wagon, which enabled me to march light. 

December 12th. — Started with the column this morning, and 
kept going till near sundown. On the march no one is allowed 
to fall out, so long as he can put one foot before the other, and 
the rear-guard is merciless. I never felt so tired in my life (still 
half-sick, as I am) as I do to-night; but, thank Heaven, I was 
somehow enabled to keep up. 

December 16th. — Our camp is named after Governor Wickliffe, 
now in Congress. I came off guard about 8:30 A. M., and a little 
after nine o'clock was arrested, and taken to the guard-house, for 
not going on drill. All the old guards, fifty or more in number, 
were with me — the matter being perfectly understood all over the 
regiment. 

December 17th. — All of yesterday's guards, including Sergeant 

T , of Company A, who arrested me for the same cause, 

were marched to the guard-house for refusing to go on drill this 
morning. The imposition is too palpable for the boys to submit 
to it. 

December 19th. — Drill, drill, drill! The major was the only 
field officer out, the colonel being sick, and the lieutenant-colonel 
in charge of the pickets. Orders read to-night excuse the old 



TEAINING UNDER NELSON. 549 

guards from drill until the afternoon of the day on which they are 
relieved. This saves me from going to the guard-house again. 

December 24:th. — Our company on picket about three miles back 
toward New Haven. Four of us, with Dave Medary as corporal, 
were posted on the dirt road to Hodgensville. A clear, star-light 
night. "Christmas-eve" makes us think of home. 

December 27th. — Rain last night. No drills to-day, in order to 
allow time to complete the vaccination of the regiment, which was 
begun two days ago. 

December 29th, Sunday. — Company inspection. A royal good 
dinner, Bartlett, Dave Medary, and Zicgler each having received 
a box of good things last night by express. Ziegler's catawba, 
right from old Green Township, completed the feast. Loammi 
Smith gave us a toast, and Gates tried to raise a song; after which, 
remembering that it was Sunday, we wound up by singing "Old 
Hundred." 

December 30th. — In the afternoon was detailed for extra duty, 
and helped put up a tent for Captain Phillipps, division commis- 
sary. Was called a "murphy" for my pains by one of his clerks 
named Woods, and when the work was done, refused the proffered 
whisky-bottle. 

January 1st, 1862. — New Year's, and a holiday. At dress 
parade this evening Alf, Burnett put the whole line into a grin 
by getting some distance behind the colonel, and making grimaces 
at the men. He was discharged a good while ago, but remains 
with the sutler still. 

January 3d. — " Necessity is the mother of invention," and John 
Collins is the father. He has contrived a little stove for our mess, 
consisting of a camp-kettle laid on its side in a box of earth, with 
a mess-pan fitted to the kettle's mouth for the stove-door. A 
single length of pipe, to which is attached a bottomless fruit-can, 
does duty as stove-pipe, the whole being twenty-eight inches long. 
This is neatly fitted by a double rivet of three nails into a circular 
hole cut in the upper side of the kettle. The pipe passes through 
a rip made in a seam on the side of the tent opposite the door, 
and is protected on the outside by a mess-pan. This quaint appar- 
atus works well, and is much admired for its ingenuity. 

January 13th.— Cold and windy. Our Sibley tents were issued 
this afternoon, and put up immediately. There are five to a com- 
pany, which necessitates the consolidation of some of the messes. 



550- THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

Such electioneering and button-holing as there was by excited in- 
dividuals, to win over the requisite number of recruits from other 
messes, and thus prevent the dismemberment of their own, it was 
a sight to see. Our mess is all right. At night I was on guard 
at McDougal's stables, and slept in the hay-loft, warm and com- 
fortable. 

January ITth. — On wood squad again. The mules stalled with 
the first load, and we had a great time in getting them started. 
Borrowed Ed Howe's Shakspeare, and began reading "Romeo 
and Juliet." 

January 24th. — The th Indiana is under arrest, " for shirk- 
ing duty by the plea of sickness, in many cases feigned," as the 
special order from General Nelson says. The General took away 
their colors to-day. Three hundred and fifty-one sick were ex- 
cused from duty in that regiment this morning, while the Sixth 
Ohio had but fourteen. 

January 29tb. — On guard. Rain, sleet, mud, and misery. The 
countersign was " Biloxi," which the German, whom I relieved, 
transmitted to me as "Peacock's eye I'' 

January 30th. — Snow on my morning watch that froze to my 
blanket. Overcoat, and gun. Major Christopher told me that I 
looked "like one of the Old Guard of Napoleon;" and, in truth, 
I did feel very old. A cold and dreary ilay throughout, with two 
inches of snow. Slept all the foreuooji, and in the afternoon fin- 
ished reading my last " Atlantic." 

February 10th. — We have papers giving particulars of the cap- 
ture of Fort Henry. Hope that Fort Donelson has also fallen 
before this. Why are we not stirring? I have five letters to 
answer, but am out of postage stamps, and can neither buy, beg, 
nor borrow them. 



NELSONIANA. 



The following is the famous " Beef Soup Order," referred to in 
Chapter XIV : 

General Orders, No. 14. 
Head-quarters Fourth Division, Army of the Ohio, ) 
Camp Wickliffe, Ky., December 27, 1861. ) 

I. Fresh beef will be issued to the troops three times a week 
oaly, to wit: on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. No altera- 



TRAINING UNDER NELSON. 551 

tion will be made in tliis respect, except by general order from 
these head-quarter^. 

II. Of the fresh beef, soup will be made. The following method 
of preparing it is recommended : To every thirteen pints of water 
put seven pounds of beef, two and a half ounces of salt, three 
ounces of flour, a very little pepper, two pounds of potatoes, rice, 
or any other suitable vegetable, and three ounces of sugar. Place 
them all in the pot at the same time, except the flour (the water 
cold). Put the pot on the fire, and, when it is once fairly boiling, 
diminish the fire, and let it simmer gently for three hours and a 
half. Next take out the meat, and keep it warm in a pan. Then 
mix the flour with enough water to make a liquid batter, and stir 
it well into the soup. Boil half an hour longer, skimming oflF 
the fat. Then serve the meat and soup separately. Observing 
these directions, most excellent soup will be made. This formula 
will be copied for the use of cooks. 

III. The officers of the regiments, particularly the captains, are 

required to give their personal attention to this subject. Nothing 

distinuuishes a good and conscientious officer so much as a careful 

consideration of the health and comfort of those in his command. 

By order of 

Brigadier-General Nelson. 

J. Mills Kendrick, A. A. A. G. 



Our boys are furious for practical jokes, and are constantly on 
the lookout for subjects. One of the latter was recently found in 
the person of a new teamster, who has the charge of six large, 
shaggy mules. Jehu was discovered to be the proprietor of two 
bottles of old Bourbon— a contraband article in this camp— which 
a wag resolved to possess himself of. Aware that the teamster's 
presence was the great obstacle to the consummation of his desire, 
he devised the following plan to get him out of the way. Ap- 
proaching the man, who was busy currying his mule, he accosted 
him with: 

"I say, what are you doing there?" 

"Can't you see?" replied Jehu, gruffly. 

" Certainly ; but this is n't your business. It 's after tattoo 
now, and there is a fellow right here, hired by the Government 
on purpose to curry all the teams that come in late. 



552 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

The driver bit at once, and wanted to know where the aforesaid 
" hair-dresser " kept himself, whereupon he was pointed to Gen- 
•eral Nelson's tent, with the assurance that there was where " the 
fellow hung out." 

" You can't mistake him," said the wag; "he is a large fellow, 
and puts on a thundering sight of airs for a man in his business. 
He will probably refuse to do it, and tell you to go to the devil. 
(He has been drinking some to-day.) But don't you mind that; 
make him come out, sure!" 

Off posted Jehu, and, entering the tent where our Napoleon of 
the Fourth Division sat in a deep reverie, probably considering 
the most expeditious method of expelling the rebel Buckner from 
his native State, gave him a slap on the back sufficient^to annihi- 
late a man of ordinary size. Springing to his feet, the General 
confronted his uninvited guest in a moment. 

"Well, sir, who the devil are you, and what do you want, sir?" 

"Old chap, I've got a job for you — six mules to be curried, 
and right away, too," said the captain of mules, nothing daunted 
by the flashing eye of the General. 

" D — n you, sir ! What do you mean, sir? Do you know who 
I am, sir? " 

" Yes, sir-ee ! " replied Jehu, elevating his voice to a pitch that 
rendered the words audible a square off; "you are the fellow 
that Uncle Sam has hired to curry the mules. Come, now, I do n't 
want any foolishness about it. Just clean them there mules, and 
I'll give you a drink of busthead." 

" You infernal villain ! " roared the General, now perfectly fu- 
rious, "I am General Nelson, commander of this division." 

Jehu placed the thumb of his right hand against his nose, and, 
extending his fingers, waved them slowly, in a manner intended 
to be indicative of great wisdom. The General's sword leaped 
from its scabbard, and Jehu from the tent just in time to save 
his head. By this time, of course, the Bourbon had been duly 
cared for, and in it the boys drank the "big mule-driver's" health 
with a gusto. The story soon got wind, and is now the standard 
joke of the season. — '■'■Nemo" to the Cincinnati Commercial, Jan- 
uary 8, 1862. , 

On one occasion, when General Nelson was inarching through 
the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, we halted for the night in a 



TRAINING UNDER NELSON. 553 

narrow valley between two mountains. The roads were very bad, 
and the trains continued coming in at all hours of the night. The 
Oeneral had gone to bed, not, however, until he had abused things 
in general, as was his custom when men and movements were not 
" on time." A wagoner, who had just got in, espied, sitting be- 
fore a camp-fire, Mr. Sam. Owens, a man of talent and infinite 
fun withal, then serving as volunteer aid upon General Nelson's 
stafi" (and. at that particular moment, upon the stool of repent- 
ance for having sat down upon the General's hat a little while 
before). The driver inquired of him where he should leave his 
team. "Just beyond you, there," pointing to the spot as he 
spoke ; " and, when you have taken care of your horses, go to that 
tent yonder, the second one from here, and there you will find a 
big fat man, sleeping on a lounge. Wake him up, and he will 
give you some hot coffee. The quartermaster thought you drivers 
would need it, and has left him here to attend to it. He is hard 
to wake, though, the quartermaster says ; you will have to grab 
him right tight, and give him a good pull, then a push, and then 
roll him quick and fast, like you would a barrel. He swears a 
good deal when he is first waked up, and will try to frighten you 
away; but just you hold on to him till he is fairly awake, and he 
will give up." 

The driver obeyea instructions to the letter. After a firm grab, 
a decided pull, and a vigorous push, with a " roll like a barrel " 
at the end of it all, "Come, old chap!" said he, "I want that 
coffee. It's no use to swear and bluster; it's got to come!" 
Hardly were the words uttered, when General Nelson sprang from 
his couch, and the volley of oaths that then ensued so terrified 
the poor driver that, it is said, his hair turned gray. — Private 
Letter. 



While I am speaking of General Nelson, let me tell a story 

which I have just heard, prefacing it with the remark that I have 

no doubt whatever of its truthfulness. 

Riding through the camp of one of his sickliest regiments, the 

General perceived a private carrying a mackerel in his hand. 
''What is that you have in your hand, sir?" 
"A — a mackerel," was the hesitating reply. , 

"Got a mackerel! Well, sir, doesn't your commissary give 

you enough to eat?" 



554 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

"Yes, sir." 

"What do you want of mackerel, then?" 

"Why," answered the now thoroughly frightened man, "why, 
I have heard that mackerels are good for diarrhea." 

"You have been told this, sir! " 

" Yes, sir." 

"Who is your captain, sir?" 

" Captain Johnson." 

" Well, sir, report to Captain Johnson whether the treatment 
proves successful ; and if it does, I will order Jour hundred harreh 
of mackerel V^ — '■'■Zehe''^ to the Cincinnati Times, January 26, 1862. 



General Nelson has the confidence of the whole division, and, 
more than this, is really liked by most of the men, notwithstanding 
the coarseness, the regular quarter-deck style of his manners. I 
saw him perform an act of genuine kindness yesterday. A poor 
fellow, belonging to the Fiftieth Indiana, a mere boy in appear- 
ance, just recovering from the measles, happened to encounter the 
General on horseback near head-quarters. " Old Buster," (as the 
boys call Nelson,) stopped him and demanded to know his busi- 
ness so far from his regiment; whereupon the boy tremblingly pro- 
duced a pass, and explained that he had come over to the bakery 
to buy some bread ; " he still felt right weak, had n't any appe- 
tite, and could n't go hard-tack now." 

" Well, sir, and why did n't you get the bread?" 

"Why, they asked me ten cents a loaf, and Jive cents is all 
I 've got." 

"I'll see about this. Here is a quarter; go and tell that ras- 
cally baker to give you five loaves of bread for it — hy order of 
General Nehon! And if he doesn't do it, come and report to 
me, sir ! " 

Before the poor boy could collect his wits sufficiently to begin 
stammering out his thanks, the old fellow was half-way to head- 
quarters. Soon afterward he went down to the bakery himself 
and gave the baker such a blowing up as he won't soon forget. 
What made the case a good deal worse for the latter is, that the 
price of bread is the subject of a special order, fixing it at five 
cents a loaf. — Private Letter from a Sixth Ohio soldier at Camp 
Wickliffe. 



TEAINING UNDER NELSON. 555 

Dr. J. Taylor Bradford is responsible for the following 

"General Nelson said to me one day, 'Bradford, the mothers of 
the Sixth Ohio boys, were all blue hens ! ' [Referring to an anec- 
dote of Captain Caldwell, a recruiting officer of the Revolution, 
who had great fondness for cock-fighting, and declared that no 
game cock was reliable, unless from a blue hen,] They are good 
fighters; they have more talent and better health, have more well- 
bred gentlemen among them (and some bigger rascals, too,) and 
are harder to manage, than any other regiment in the army 1 ' " 



A MILITARY EXECUTION. 

On the afternoon of a cold and cheerless day in March, 1862, I 
beheld, for the first, and I trust the last, time, a military execu- 
tion. Though not in my place in the rank^ that day, I was one 
of several thousand troops — infantry, cavalry, and artillery, as- 
sembled in obedience to the following order: 

Head-qtjartees, Fourth Divisiox, ) 
Camp Andrew Jackson, Tenn., March 4, 1862. j 
[General Orders, No. 26.] 

•The Fourth and Fifth Divisions will assemble, under arms, to- 
morrow, March 5th, at 3 P. M., to witness the execution of pri- 
vate Michael Connell, Company E, Twenty-fourth Ohio Volunteers, 
condemned to be shot for ofi"ering violence to his superior officer. 
By command of 

Brigadier-General Nelson. 
J. Mills Kendrick, A. A. A. G. 

The superior officer referred to was Corporal Alonzo Pocock, 
Company K, Twenty -fourth Ohio, who, being on duty as Corporal 
of the Guard, attempted to arrest Connell, for certain disorderly 
proceedings committed while under the influence of liquor, and was 
fired at by him four or five times with a revolver, though without 
receiving any injury. This occurred at Camp Wickliffe, Kentucky, 
on the night of the 9th of January, 1862. The offender was 
promptly brought before a General Court-Martial, of which Col- 
onel Stanley Matthews was president, where he pleaded guilty, and 
was condemned to suffer death by shooting ; but, as he had been 
a good soldier in the main, and some time had elapsed since his 



556 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

trial, tlie belief had been gaining ground that his sentence would 
be commuted. Such, indeed, was the hope of the officers of the 
Twenty-fourth Ohio, and of his comrades, to a man. 

Promptly, at three o'clock, the command began assembling at 
the spot selected. It was a large meadow, with a hollow running 
through it, whence the ground sloped upward on either side, form- 
ing a kind of natural amphitheater. Some time was consumed in 
posting the troops, which was done in such a manner as to form 
three sides of a large hollow square, a number of regiments being 
in column of companies arranged in echelon., the better to command 
a view of the execution. At four o'clock, the actors in the tragedy 
about to be enacted, entered the field, in the following order : first, 
the brass band of the Twenty-fourth Ohio, playing a dead march ; 
next, a squad of 'soldiers under a lieutenant, with muskets loaded 
by other hands, for the terrible duty of executioners ; then, the 
coffin, of pine boards planed, on a bier borne by four men, close 
behind whom, with his arms pinioned, followed the condemned, 
walking in cadenced step between the chaplain of his regiment and 
a Catholic priest from Nashville; last of all, another squad of sol- 
diers. Conuell was a tall, fine-looking Irishman, of perhaps eight 
and twenty years of age ; his step was firm and erect, and his whole 
mien undaunted to the last. Commencing at one of the open cor- 
ners of the square, the mournful procession moved slowly down 
the lines, around the inside of the square, and finally halted in the 
center. The coffin was placed upon the ground, and Connell took 
his place directly in front of it, upon one side of a tiny streamlet 
flowing down the hollow before described ; on the opposite side, 
the lieutenant formed his squad, facing their victim, and distant 
from him scarcely a dozen paces. Major Hall, of the Twenty- 
fourth Ohio, in a firm, clear voice read the general order, em- 
bodying the proceedings of the court-martial, the sentence, and 
its approval by General Buell. Then the eyes of the doomed man 
were bandaged with a white handkerchief, and he stood alone be- 
fore his coffin. The thousands who were looking on, with bated 
breath, were as still as statues. ^'- Ready!'' how fearfully distinct 
the word did sound! ^^ Aim .'" At this instant a mounted officer 
dashed toward the lieutenant, and in a low tone delivered some 
message, which I at first thought must be a reprieve ; for the eight 
leveled guns were at once brought back to a " ready," the band- 
age was removed from the eyes of the victim, and the chaplain 



TEAINING UNDER NELSON. 557 

and priest were at his side in a moment. They remained in con- 
versation with him for perhaps five minutes, although tlie dreadful 
suspense made the time seem much longer. " Humph ! " said a 
colonel, a graduate of West Point, who sat on his horse just in 
front of me, as I stood upon a fence watching the proceedings with 
horror-struck iutentness : "Are they all this time absolving him?" 
as if begrudging the poor wretch a moment more of life. I could 
have felled him to the earth for the heartless words ! Soon, how- 
ever, the bandage was replaced, th^ ministers in holy things again 
retired, and the commands were repeated, ^^ Ready ! aim! Firk!" 
The smoke drifted quickly away ; he sank gently down upon his 
coffin, fell over on his right side, and the next moment a lifeless 
corpse rolled heavily forward' upon the grass. Four balls took 
effect, passing through the left breast — three caps missed fire, and 
one man did not pull trigger. Up to the last moment, Nelson 
hoped a reprieve would yet arrive from General Buell, and it was 
owing to this hope that the poor wretch, meeting his fate so bravely, 
had been granted five added minutes of lengthened misery to live. 
Returning to camp when all was over, the bands went playing 
" The girl I left behind me," but the men followed silent and 
moody. They felt that 

"Earthly power doth then show likest God's 
When mercy seasons justice." 
^ Private Manuscript. 



558 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 



COMING UP AT SHILOH.* 

THE rain, whicli had been falling steadily since shortly after 
midnight, ceased at day-break. The morning dawned slowly 
and moodily, above the wooded hill-tops that rose steeply 
from the farther bank of the creek close by, right over against 
the corn-field in which, on the preceding evening, we had com- 
fortably pitched our camp. The bugle wound an early reveille ; 
then came the call to strike tents, (though one-half of the brigade 
was yet busy in hurried preparations for breakfast), and presently 
the assembly sounded. We were on the march again by the time 
the suu would have liked to greet us with his broad, level-thrown 
smile for " good morning, " if the sky had been clear and open 
enough, instead of covered, as it was on this damp, chilly April 
morning, with dull, sullen masses of cloud that seemed still 
nursing their ill humor and bent on having another outbreak. 
The road was heavy; an old, worn stage-coach road, of a slip- 
pery, treacherous clay, which the trampings of our advanced 
regiments speedily kneaded into a tough, stiff dough, forming a 
track that was enough to try the wind and bottom of the best. 
For some miles, too, the route was otherwise a difficult one — hilly, 
and leading by two or three tedious crossings in single file over 
fords, where now were rushing turbid, swollen streams, gorging 
and overflowing their banks every-where, in the channels which, 
nine months out of the twelve, give passage to innocent brooklets 
only, that the natives of these parts may cross barefoot without 
wetting an ankle. Spite of these drawbacks, the men were in fine 

*This chapter Is abridged from a paper published in the " Coutinental 
Monthly " Magazine, for October, 1864. It was written by a former member of 
the Sixth Ohio. 



COMING UP AT SIIILOH. 550 

spirits ; for this was the end of our weary march, from Nashville 
and we were sure now of a few days' rest and quiet. 

A few minutes after midday we reached Savanna, and were 
ordered at once into camp. By this time the sky had cleared, 
the sun was shining brightly, though, as it seemed, with an cfl'urt ; 
the wind, which had been freshening ever since morniiig, was 
blowing strong and settled from out the blue west, and the earth 
was drying rapidly. The Sixth Ohio and a comrade regiment of 
the Tenth Brigade pitched their tents in an old and well-cleared 
camping ground, on a gently-sloping rise looking toward the 
town from the south-eastward; a little too far from the river to 
quite take in, in its prospect, the landing with its flotilla of 
transports and the gunboats which they told us were lying there, 
yet not so far but we could easily discern the smoke floating up 
black and dense, from the boats' chimney stacks, and hear the 
long-drawn, labored pufl"s of the escape pipes, and the shrill 
signals of the steam whistles. Altogether our camping ground 
was eligible, dry, and pleasant. 

It was on Saturday, the fifth day of April, 1862, that the 
Fourth Division, being the advance corps of the Army of the 
Ohio, came thus to Savanna, and so was brought within actual 
supporting distance of the forces under General Grant at Pitts- 
burg Landing, ten miles up the farther bank of the Tennessee. 
General Grant had his head-quarters at Savanna, and there im- 
mediately upon our arrival our commander reported his division. 
Long before night, camp-rumors had complacently decided our 
disposition for the present. Three days at Savanna to allow the 
other corps of our army to come up with us, and then, by one 
more easy stage, we could all move together up to Pittsburg 
Landing, and take position beside the Army of the Tennessee. 

There was but an inconsiderable force here, composed, for the 
most part, of new troops from two or three States of the North- 
west. I remember, especially, one regiment from Wisconsin, made 
up of great, brawny, awkward fellows — backwoodsmen and lum- 
bermen chiefly — who followed us to Shiloh on the next evening, 
and through the whole of Monday fought and sufi'ered like 
heroes, as they were. Our first inquiries were concerning our 
comrade army, and the enemy confronting it at Corinth. Varied 
and incongruous enough was the information that we gleaned, and 
in some details requiring a simple credulity that nine months of 



560 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

active campaigning had quite jostled and worried out of us. It 
seemed settled, however, that our comrades up the river were a 
host formidable in numbers and of magnificent armament and 
viaieriel ; altogether, very well able- to take care of themselves, at 
least, until we could join them at our leisure. 

There were some things which, if we had more carefully con- 
sidered them, might, perhaps, have abated &.omewhat this pleasant 
conviction of security. The enemy had lately grown wonderfully 
bold and venturesome — skirmishing with picket outposts, bullying 
recounoitering parties, and picking quarrels upon the slightest 
provocation. He had even challenged our gunboats, disputing 
the passage up the river in au artillery duel at the bluffs not 
far above the landing, whose hoarse, sullen rumbling had reached 
us where we were resting on Thursday afternoon, at the distance 
of thirty miles back toward Nashville. But, then, on how few 
fields had Southern chivalry ever yet ventured to attack; how 
seldom, but when fairly cornered, had its champions deemed dis- 
cretion not the better part of valor ! So we cast aside all serious 
thought of immediate danger at Pittsburg Landing, not a few pro- 
nouncing these demonstrations of a foe who had shown our army 
only his heels all the way from Bowling Green and Fort Donelson, 
really diverting from their audacity. 

At sunset, the Sixth held dress parade — the first since our 
march from Columbia; but I, on duty that day as one of the 
" reserve guard," was merely a looker-on. I was never prouder of 
the old regiment in my life ; it went through with the manual of 
arms so well — and in the presence, too, of so many spectators 
from other regiments. Orders were given to prepare for a 
thorough inspection of arms and equipments at ten o'clock on the 
next morning, then parade was dismissed, and so the day ended. 
The wind died away, and the night deepened, cool, tranquil, starlit, 
on a camp of weary soldiery, where contentment and good-will 
ruled for the hour over all. 

Beautifully clear and calm the Sabbath morning dawned, April 
6th, 1862 ; rather chilly, indeed, for it was yet in the budding 
time of spring. But the sky was so blue and cloudless, the air 
80 still, and all nature lay smiling so serene and fair in the glad 
sunshine — it was a day such as that whereon the Creator may 
have looked upon the new-born earth, and " saw every thing that 
He had made, and, behold, it was very good ; " a day as if chosen 



COMI^-G UP AT SHILOH. 561 

from all its fellows and consecrated to a hallowed quiet, the bless- 
edness of prayer and thanksgiving. 

Hardly a man in our division, I believe, but awoke that morning 
•with a happy consciousness of long hours that this day were to be 
his own, and a clear idea of just how he should improve them. 
My programme was the general one, and simple enough it was. 
First, of course, to make ready for inspection, and, that ceremony 
well gotten through with, to enact the familiar performance of 
every man his own washerwoman and seamstress : the remainder 
of the day should be devoted to the soldier's sacred delight of cor- 
respondence — to completing a letter to "Wynne, begun back at . 
Columbia, and writing home. Out by the smoldering fire, where 
the cooks of our mess had prepared breakfast nearly two hours 
before, I was busily at work furbishing with the dust- fine ashes the 
brasses of my accoutermeuts, when the boom of cannon burst 
upon tlie air, rolling heavily from away to the southward from 
what we knew must be the neighborhood of the camps at Pitts- 
burg Landing. It was after seven o'clock. The sun was mount- 
ing over the scrubby oak copse behind our camp, and the day grew 
wftrm apace. Another and still another explosion followed iu 
quick succession. 

What could it mean? Only the gunboats, perhaps, shelling 
guerrillas out of the woods somewhere along the river bank. Im- 
possible ; too near, too far to the right, for that. It could hardly 
be artillery practice, for to-day was the Sabbath. And the young- 
est soldier among us knew better than to give those rapid, furious 
volleys the interpretation of a formal military salute. Could it 
really be — battle? 

Every man almost was out and listening intently. Louder and 
fiercer the reports came, though still irregular. Now and then, in 
the intervals, a low, quick crepitation reached us, an undertone 
that no soldier could fail to recognize as distant musketry. 
Ominous sounds they were, portending what — if not actual battle? 
If a battle, then certainly an attack by the enemy. Were our 
comrades up at the landing prepared for it ? 

The first cannon had not long been fired when General Nelson 
rode by toward Grant's head-quarters, aids and orderlies following 
upon the gallop. Presently came orders : 

" Three days' rations in haversacks, strike tents, and pack up. 
36 



562 THE STOEY OP A REGIMENT. 

Be ready to move at a moment's notice. They are fighting up at 
the landing." 

There was no need for further urging. By ten o'clock every 
disposition for the march had been completed. Nearly three long- 
hours more we waited with feverish anxiety for the final command 
to start, while the roar of that deathly strife fell distantly upon 
our ears almost without intermission, and a hundred wild rumors 
swept through the camp. General Grant had gone up the river 
on a gunboat soon after the cannonading began. A few minutes 
after middtiy we struck tents, were furnished with a new supply 
of cartridges and caps for our Eufields, and waited several min- 
utes longer. At length the column formed, and, though still 
without orders, except those which its immediate commander had 
assumed the responsibility to give, the Fourth Division started. 
The Tenth Brigade had, as usual, the advance, and, in our regular 
turn, the Sixth came the third regiment in the column. We had 
just cleared the camping grounds, I well remember, when General 
Nelson rode leisurely down the line, his eye taking note with the 
rapid glance of the real soldier of every minutiae of equipments 
and appearance generally. Some natures seem to find in antagon- 
ism and conflict their native element, their chief good — yet more, 
almost as much a necessity of their moral organism as to their 
animal being is the air they breathe. Such a nature was Nel- 
son's. His face to-day wore that characteristic expression by 
which every man of his command learned to graduate his ex- 
pectation of an action ; it was the very picture of satisfaction and 
good humor. He wheeled his horse half-way around as the rear 
of our brigade passed him, and a blander tone of command I never 
heard than when, in his quick, authoritative manner, he rang 
out : 

"Now, gentlemen, keep the column well closed up!" and passed 
on toward the next brigade. 

Gentlemen ! how oddly the title comes to sound in the ears of 
a soldier ! 

From Savanna to the Tennessee, directly opposite Pittsburg 
Landing, is, by the course we took, perhaps ten miles. The route 
was only a narrow wagon-path through the woods and bottoms 
bordering the river, and the wisdom was soon apparent which had 
beforehand secured the services of a native as guide. Most of tho 
latter half of the distance was through a low, slimy swamp land, 



COMING UP AT SIITLOH. 5G0 

giving rank growth to an almost continuous forest of sycamore, 
cotton-wood, and other trees which love a damp, alluvial soil, 
whose massive trunks wore yet foul and unsightly with filth and 
scum deposited by the receding waters at the subsidence of the 
river's spring freshet a month before. Stagnant ponds and mimic 
lagoons lay all about us, and in our very pathway, some of the 
deeper ones, however, rudely bridged. Very rapid progress was 
impossible. It had been found necessary to leave our artillery at 
Savanna, whence it would have to be brought up on the trans- 
ports. The afternoon wore on, warm and sultry, and the atmos- 
phere in those dank woods i'elt close and unwholesome. Not a 
breath of air stirred to refresh the heated forms winding in long, 
continuous line among the dark boles of the trees, through whose 
branches and leafless twigs the sunlight streamed in little broken 
gleams of yellow brightness, and made a curious checker-work of 
sheen and shadow on all beneath. Burdened as we were with 
knapsacks and twenty extra rounds of ammunition, the march 
grew more and more laborious. But the noise of battle was 
sharpening every few minutes now, and the men pushed forward. 
It was no child's game going on ahead of us. We might be 
needed. 

We were needed. A loud, tumultuous cheer from the Thirty- 
sixth Indiana came surging down through the ranks of the Twen- 
ty-fourth Ohio to our own regiment, and away back beyond to the 
Twenty-second and Nineteenth Brigades in the rear. " Forward ! " 
and we were oiF on the double-quick. General Nelson was at the 
head of the column. There a courier had met him. with urgent 
orders to hasten up the reeuforcements ; the enemy wore pressing 
hard for the landing. Unmindful of all impediments — trees and 
fallen logs, shallow ponds and slippery mire shoe-top deep; now 
again moderating our pace to the route step to recover breath and 
strength ; even halting impatiently for a few minutes now and 
then, while the advance cleared itself from some entanglement of 
the way — so the remainder of our march continued. It seemed 
a long way to the landing, the battle dinning in our ears at every 
step. At length it sounded directly ahead of us, and, looking 
forward between the tree-tops, a good eye could easily discover a 
dark cloud of smoke hanging low in mid-air over the battle-field: 
Suddenly we debouched into a level corn-field, extending quite to 
the river's verge. The clearing was not a wide one, and the fur- 



564 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

tber bank of the Tennessee was in plain sight — the landings, 
the bluff, and the woods above stretching away out and back be- 
yond. 

AVhat a panorama ! The river directly before us was hidden 
by a narrow belt of chaparral and the drift that had lodged along 
the banks, but the smoke-stacks of three or four transports were 
visible above the weed-stalks and bushes, and the course of one 
or two more could be traced by a trailing line of smoke as they 
steamed down toward Savanna. The opposite bank rises from the 
•river a steep acclivity, perhaps a hundred and fifty feet in perpen- 
dicular height, down whose sides of brownish-yellow clay narrow 
roadways have been cut to the landings below. Cresting the bluff, 
woods overlooked the whole and shut in the scene as far as the eye 
could follow the windings of the Tennessee. In their depths the 
battle was raging with unabated fury. A short distance up the 
river, though completely hidden from view by an intervening bend, 
the gunboats were at work, and even our unpracticed ears could 
easily distinguish the heavy boom of their great thirty-two pounders 
in the midst of all that storm of artillery explosions. Glorious old 
Tyler and Lexington ! primitive, ungainly, weather-beaten wooden 
craft, but the salvation, in this crisis hour of the fight, of our out- 
numbered and well-nigh borne-down left. A signal party, stationed 
a little above the upper landing, and half-way up the bluff,. was 
communicating, in the mystic language of the code, with another 
upon our side the river. The steep bank was covered with a 
swaying, restless mass of blue-uniformed men, too distant to be 
distinctly discriminated, yet certainly numbering thousands. "Ke- 
serves!" a dozen voices cried at once, and the next moment came 
the wonder that our march had been so hurried, when whole bri- 
gades, as it seemed, were thus held in idle waiting. We were soon 
undeceived. 

Out into the corn-field filed the column, up the river, and nearly 
parallel to it, halting a little below the upper one of the two prin- 
cipal landings. . Here there was a further delaying for ferriage. 

"Stack arms; every man fill his canteen, then come right back 
to the ranks! " 

Not to the Tennessee for water — there was no time to go so 
far — but close at hand, at a pond, or little bayou of the river; 
and, returning to the line of stacks, a few more long, unquiet 
minutes in waiting, and eager gazing toward the battle. And then 



COMING UP AT SHILOH. 5G5 

we saw what that dark, turbulent multitude over the river was : 
oh, shame! a confused rabble, composed chiefly of men wliose 
places were rightly on the field, but who had turned and fled away 
from the fight to seek safety under that Blufi". 

Forward again, and the regiment moved, with short, aggravating 
halts, up to the point on the river where the Thirty-sixth Indiana 
had already embarked, and was now being ferried over. The 
Twenty-fourth Ohio crossed at the lower landing. There wore a 
number of country folks here, whose intense anxiety to see every 
movement visible on the farther side of the river kept them shift- 
ing their positions continually. One of these worthies was hailed 
from our company : 

"Say, old fellow! how's the fight going on over there?" 

He was an old and somewhat diminutive specimen, grizzle 
haired and stoop shouldered, but yellow and withered from the 
efieets of sun and tobacco rather than the burden of years. For 
a moment he hesitated, as though guarding his reply, and then, 
with a side-long glance of the eyes, answered slowly : 

" Well, it are n't hardly decided yet, I reckon ; but they 'ro 
a drivin' your folks — some." 

Evidently he believed that our army had been badly beaten. 

The emphatic rejoinder, "D d old secesh !" was the sole thanks 

his information brought him, the characterization, aside from the 
accented epithet, being doubtless a just one. 

A minute later we passed a sergeant, whose uniform and bright 
red chevrons showed that he was attached to some battery. He 
was mounted upon a large, powerful horse, and seemed a man of 
considerable intelligence. 

"Do the rebels fight well over there?" demanded a voice from 
the column a half-dozen files ahead of me. 

"Guess they do ! Anyway,/^ well enough to take our batt'.,ry 
from us — every gun, and some of the caissons." 

Another soldier met us, unencumbered with blouse or coat of 
any kind, his aceouterments adjusted over his gray flannel shirt, 
and his rifle sloped carelessly back over his shoulder. His eyes 
were bloodshot, and his face, all begrimed with smoke and gun- 
powder, wore an expression haggard and gaunt. He was a sharp- 
shooter, he told us, belonging to some Missouri regiment, and had 
been out skirmishing almost ever since daylight, with not a 
mouthful to eat since the evening before. His cartridges — and ho 



566 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

ghowed us his empty cartridge-box — liad given out the second 
time, and he was "used up." In his hat and clothes were 
several bullet holes ; but he had been hit but once, he said, and 
then by only a spent bnckshot. 

"Boys, I'm glad you're come," he said. "It's a fact, they 
have whipped us so far ; but I guess we 've got 'em all right now. 
How many of Buell's army can come up to-night?" 

A hurried, many-voiced reply, and hastening on past a hetero- 
geneous collection of soldiery — couriers, cavalry-men, malingerers, 
stragglers, a few of the slightly wounded, and camp followers of 
all sorts — we quickly reached the river's brink. The boat was 
lying close below. Twenty feet down the cruiubliug bank, 
slipping or swinging down by the roots and twigs of friendly 
bushes, the regiment lost but little time in embarking. The 
horses of our field ofi&eers were somehow got on board, and, with 
crowded decks, the little steamer headed for the landing right 
over against us. Two or three boats were there hugging the 
shore, quiet and nlotionless, and there were still more at the 
lower^ lauding. One or two of these the deck hands pointed out 
to us as magazine boats, freighted with precious stores of ammu- 
nition, and the remainder were now being used as hospital boats. 
The wounded had quite filled these latter, and several hundred 
more of the day's victims had already been sent to Savanna. 
One of the gunboats, fresh from its glorious work beyond tlie 
bend, shortly came in sight, moving slowly down stream, as 
though reconnoitering the bank for some inlet up which its crash- 
ing broadsides could be poured with deadliest efiect, if the enemy 
should again appear in sight. 

An informal command to load was given us presently, but 
many had already anticipated it. How terribly significant be- 
comes the simple mechanism of loading a rifle when one knows 
that it is the preparation for deadly battle ! The few details 
which we could gather from the deck hands concerning the fight 
were meager and unsatisfactory. They told us of disaster that 
befell our army in the morning, and which it seemed very 
doubtful if the afternoon had yet seen remedied ; and their testi- 
mony was borne out by evidences to which our own senses were 
unwilling witnesses. The roar of battle sounded appallingly near, 
and two or three of our guns were in vigorous play upon the 
enemy so close on the crest of the blufl" that every flash could be 



COMING UP AT SIIILOH. 567 

seen distinctly. Several shells from the enemy's artillery swept 
by, cleaving the air many feet above us with that peculiar, fierce, 
rushing noise, which no one, I believe, can hear for the first time 
without an instinctive feeling of dismay and awe. 

At the landing — but how shall I attempt to set that picture 
forth? I have never yet seen told in print the half of that 
sickening story. Wagons, teams, and led hor.ses, (juartermaster's 
stores of every description, bales of forage, caissons — all the 
paraphernalia of a magnificently appointed army — were scattered 
in promiscuous disorder along the bluflf-side. Over and all about 
the fragmentary heaps, thousands of panic-stricken wretches 
swarmed from the river's edge far up toward the top of the 
steep; a mob in uniform, wherein" all arms of the service and 
well-nigh every grade were commingled in utter confusion; a 
heaving, surging herd of humanity, smitten with a very frenzy of 
fright and despair, every sense of manly pride, of honor, and duty, 
completely paralyzed, and dead to every feeling save the most 
abject, pitiful terror. A number of oflicers could be distinguished 
amid the tumult, performing the pantomimic accompaniments of 
shouting incoherent commands, mingled with threats and entreaties. 
There was a little drummer boy, I remember too, standing in his 
shirt sleeves and pounding his drum furiously, though to what 
purpose we could not divine. Men were there in every stage of 
partial uniform and equipment; many were hatless and coatless, 
and but few retained their muskets and their accoutermeuts com- 
plete. Some stood wringing their hands, and rending the air with 
cries and lamentations, while others, in the dumb agony of fear, 
cowered behind the object that was nearest them in the direction 
of the enemy, though but the crouching form of a comrade. 
Terror had concentrated every faculty upon two ideas, and all else 
seemed forgotten: danger and death were behind and pressing 
close upon them ; on the other side of the river, whither their eyes 
were turned imploringly, there was the hope of escape and an 
opportunity for further flight. 

Meanwhile, louder than all the din and clamor else, swelled the 
roar of cannon and the sharp continuous rattle of musketry in the 
woods above. There other thousands of our comrades — many 
thousands they were, thank God! — were maintaining an unequal 
struggle, in which to further yield would be inevitable destruc- 
tion. Brave, gallant fellows ! more illustrious record than they 



568 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

made wlio here stood and fought through all these terrihle Sab- 
bath hours need no soldier crave. There has been a noble 
redemption, too, of the disgrace which S-hiloh fastened on those 
poor, treuibliug fugitives by the river-side. That disgrace was not 
an enduring one. On many a red and stubborn battle-field those 
same men have proudly vindicated their real manhood, and in 
maturer military experience have fovight their way to a renown 
abundantly enough, and more than enough, to cover the derelic- 
tions of raw, untrained, and not too skillfully directed soldiery. 

There was a rush for the boat when we neared the landing, and 
some, wading out breast deep into the stream, were kept off only at 
the point of the bayonet. Close by the water's edge grew a clump 
of sycamores. Up into one of these and far out on a projecting 
limb one scared wretch had climbed, and, as the boat rounded to, 
poised himself for a leap upon the hurricane deck; but the venture 
seemed too perilous, and he was forced to give it up in despair. 
The plank was quickly thrown out, guards were stationed to keep 
the passage clear, and we ran ashore. Until now there had been 
few demonstrations of enthusiasm, but here an eager outburst of 
shouts and cheers broke forth that well-nigh drowned the thunder- 
ings of battle. Not waiting to form on the beach, the men, as they 
debarked, rushed up the bank by one of the winding roadways. 
The gaping crowd parted right and left, and poured upon us at 
every step a torrent of queries and ejaculations. "It's no use;" 
"gone up;" "cut all to pieces;" "the last man left in my com- 
pany" — so, on all sides, smote upon our ears the tidings of disaster. 
Much fewer, but cheery and re-assuring were the welcomes : " Glad 
you've come;" "Good for you;" "Go in, boys;" "Give it to 'em, 
Buckeyes" — which came to us as we passed. 

We gained the summit of the bluff. A few hundred yards ahead 
they were fighting ; we could hear the cheering plainly, and the woods 
echoed our own shouts in response. The Thirty- sixth Indiana had 
already been pushed forward toward the extreme left of our line, 
and was even now in action. General Nelson had crossed half aa 
hour earlier. The junior member of his staff had had a saddle 
shot from under him by a chance shell from the enemy, to the 
serious detriment of a fine dress-coat, but he himself marvelously 
escaping untouched. Two field-pieces were at work close upon 
our left, firing directly over the heads of our men in front; only a 
random firing at best, and I was glad when an aid-de-camp galloped 



COMING UP AT SHILOH. hGO 

down and put a stop to the infernal din. Amid this scene of inde- 
scribable excitement and confusion, the regiment rapidly formed. 
Our knapsacks — were we going into action encumbered with them? 
The order was shouted to unsling and pile them in the rear, one 
man from each company being detailed to guard them. It was 
scarcely more than a minute's work, and we formed again. A 
great Valkyrian yell swelled out suddenly along the line, and, 
looking up, I saw General Nelson sitting on his big bay in front 
of the colors, his hat lifted from his brow, and his features all 
aglow with an expression of satisfaction and indomitable purpose. 
He was speaking, but Company B was on the left of the regiment, 
and, amidst the storm of huzzas pealing on every side, I could 
not catch a single word. Then I heard the commands, "Fix 
bayonets ! trail arms ! forward !" and at the double-quick we 
swept on, up through the stumps and underbrush to the support 
of the Thirty-sixth Indiana. A few score rods were gained, and 
we halted to recover breath and perfect another alignment. The 
firing in our front materially slackened, and presently we learned 
that the last infuriate charge of the enemy upon the left had been 
beaten back. We were told to rest, where we lay, until further 
orders. The sun sank behind the rise off to our right, a broad, 
murky red disk, in a dense, leaden-hued haze ; such a sunset as 
in spring-time is a certain betokening of rain. By this time can- 
nonading had entirely ceased, and likewise all musketry, save only 
a feeble, dropping fire upon our right. Those sounds shortly died 
a^ay, and the battle for that day was over. Night fell and spread 
its funeral pall over the field. 

On that field, freely and generously had been poured of the 
nation's best blood, and many a nameless hero had sealed with his 
life a sublime devotion far surpassing the noblest essay of eulogy 
and all the extolments which rhetoric may recount. Thank God, 
those sacrifices had not been wholly fruitless ! The Army of the 
Tennessee, although at most precious cost, had succeeded in staying 
the living waves of Southern treason until the Army of the Ohio 
could come up, and Shiloh was saved. The next day saw those 
waves rolled back in a broken, crimson current, whose ebb ceased 
only when the humiliated enemy rested safe within his fortifica- 
tions at Corinth, 



570 THE STOEY OF A REGIMEXT. 



BATTLE-PICTURES FROM SHILOH. 

ON THE BATTLE-FIELD.— (Private MS.) 

SHILOH was the first great battle I saw during the war. I was 
then a private in the Sixth Ohio Regiment, belonging to Ara- 
meu's brigade, under General Nelson, whose division was the 
foremost one of Buell's army to come to the succor of the Army 
of the Tennessee. The Sixth Ohio was a few minutes too late to 
assist the Thirty-sixth Indiana (which- had crossed the river just 
before us), in repelling the last charge upon the Union left; and 
while we rested in line of battle, a short distance behind that 
gallant command, waiting for orders, the closing in of night put 
an end to the combat for that day. For two or three hours a 
young moon gave us a little glimmering light, there in the shad- 
ows of the wood, and by it I saw a comrade, Benson, trying to 
make an entry in his pocket diary. Just then the captain called 
me, and I found sitting beside him at the foot of a tree, an old 
acquaintance from Cincinnati, then a lieutenant in Payther Jay's 
regiment, attached to the division of General Sherman. He had 
been under fire all day, without a mouthful of food, except a 
couple of crackers that one of his men had given him, and said he 
was fagged out. He took oiF his cap, and showed us the visor shot 
entirely away by a ball which had grazed his temple. We asked 
him a hundred questions; in few words, he told us the fight had 
gone steady against us all day, but we were all right now — Buell 
and Lew Wallace would turn the tables completely in the morning. 
That man you can see on 'Change, in Cincinnati, every day; and if 
you had the same recollections that I have, of his quiet, manly 
utterances on that night between two battles, it could not but in- 
spire the same hearty respect that I feel every time I take his 
friendly hand. 



BATTLE-PICTUEES FROM SHILOH. 571 

Between nine and tea o'clock, we were moved forward soiuo 
distance, in dead silence, save for the crackling of the twigs, and 
an occasional muttered command passed down the line ; for by this 
time it was growing very dark, and orders were, that every thing 
should be dune quietly, so that the rebel pickets should not hear 
us. No supper, no tiros, and with mo.st no blankets, our knap- 
sacks having been left in a pile on the bluft". when we first landed. 
Fortunately, I had strapped my India-rubber blanket over my 
cartridge-box belt, instead of on my knapsack, before leaving 
Savanna, and now it proved most useful. I was just getting ready 
to wrap up in it and lie down, when two horsemen rode up, and 
one of them leaning forward in his saddle, said, in a tone scarcely 
above a whisper, "Is Colonel Anderson here?" "No, sir, he is 
on the right." "Pass the word down the line that General Nelson 
is on the left, and wishes to see Colonel Anderson!" A figure 
was soon seen coming from the right, and then I heard the I'uUow- 
iug orders given in the same low tone as before: "Colonel Ander- 
son, I want you to send forward two companies, under two of your 
best and most trusty officers, to examine the ground that we must 
pass over in the morning, and, if possible, to ascertain where the 
enemy are, and see if the gunboats have their range. Let the 
men press forward earnestly and silently, until they meet the 
pickets of the enemy ; but, on no account, let them fire, not even 
if fired on. They must be resolute, and the enemy will fall back 
before them." 

How glad I was that Company B was not detailed for such a 
duty as that! About half an hour later, a crash of musketry off 
upon our right front told us that the companies chosen for it, from 
the right wing, had begun their work. A member of Company F 
was mortally wounded by that volley, though we did not learn the 
fact until next morning. Every ten minutes through the night 
we heard a heavy hoo77i from the gunboats, at the river behind us, 
and the next moment a thirty-two pound shell would go sweeping 
by, over the tree-tops, toward the rebel lines. A heavy thunder- 
storm about midnight ushered in a rain which continued till near 
dawn. Amid such surroundings, an oppressed feeling of un- 
certainty and suspense naturally pervaded tiie ranks, and made all 
wish for daylight. 

The gray light of Monday morning was just struggling through 
the gloom and haze, when the men were roused, bedrenched, be- 



572 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

numbed, and tlioroughly miserable, and formed in line of battle. 
What would I not have given for a cup of coffee, after that dismal 
night's experience ! But there was no time for breakfast, though 
I did put a few pieces of crackers into my mouth, from a stern 
sense of duty to my inner man, and washed them down with Ten- 
nessee River water, as we stood waiting in line. Following the 
skirmishers, we started. Colonel Ammen, mounted on old " Bob," 
rode along our front, as we moved forward, and I shall never for- 
get his telling us, in his easy, drawling way, " Now, boys, keep 
cool; give 'em the best you've got! " And, surely, no man's ex- 
ample was ever more in keeping with his precept than " Old 
Jakey's " was that day. Holding the extreme left of the Union 
Hue, his brigade was severly tried, and more than once the utmost 
of his trained skill was called into requisition, to hold it steady in 
its place ; yet, on only one occasion, did I perceive the faintest 
trace of flurry in his face or manner — that was when, having 
borrowed Captain Terrill's field-glass, lie rode out in front of the 
battery to reconnoiter the enemy and Terrill let off a Napoleon 
directly in old " Bob's" rear. It was too much for the nerves 
of that exemplary veteran — he broke and ran, straight toward 
the rebel line. Colonel Ammen had his hand on the reins in an 
instant, but he had narrowly escaped being thrown, and, for just a 
moment, he appeared really disconcerted. 

In the course of our advance, we had to cross three or four 
ravines, (in one of which I sank over shoe-tops in mud), and also 
passed through the camp of General Hurlbut's division, as we after- 
ward learned it to be, beautifully situated in a little level clearing 
about half a mile ftom our starting-place. The woods contained 
a great deal of underbrush, and this, with the broken nature of 
the country, made it necessary to halt quite frequently and correct 
our alignment ; so that we were nearly an hour in gaining a mile 
of ground, the rebel pickets falling back as ours advanced. Not 
far beyond Hurlbut's camp, we came to a portion of the battle- 
field which had been hotly contested on Sunday, and here the 
ground was strewn with dead and wounded, among whom our own 
men largely predominated. A considerable number of wounded 
had crawled or been carried to one of the ravines, out of range of 
the fire which swept the slopes above. Many had died there, and 
others were in their last agonies as we passed. Their groans and 
cries were heart-rending. One poor fellow begged most piteously 



BATTLE-PICTURES FROM SHILOH. 573 

to be put out of his misery, and another kept repeating, " God, 
have mercy! God, God!" until we passed out of hearing. 
The gory corpses lying all about us, in every imaginable attitude, 
and slain by an inconceivable variety of wounds, were shocking to 
behold, but thei/ made no sign and claimed no recognition ; their 
sufferings were over. Not so with the wounded. Strangely soon 
a soldier grows accustomed to the society of the dead upon the 
battle-field, until he can thread his way among them almost uncon- 
cerned, but hardened he must be, beyond all reclamation, who cau 
steel his heart against the cries and prayers for help of the 
wounded and the dying. If they who lightly talk of war, even 
now, so_ soon after the nation's late great agony, could only see, 
and for themselves experience the horrors of even one great battle, 
they would speak the little, fearful word with less of levity and 
inconsiderate heat of temper than they do. 

Reaching a peach orchard on the right of what we afterward 
aseertjxined was the Hamburg road, our skirmishers developed the 
enemy's main line, advantageously posted on a wooded crest be- 
yond the orchard, and the battle opened in earnest. My company 
was detached to reenforce the skirmishers thrown forward on the 
left to prevent the rebels from turning our flank in that direction. 
We kept pretty well together for nearly an hour, but after that 
every man did what seemed good in his own eyes, much in the 
style of the ancient Israelites. I had a piece shot out of the left 
elbow of my blouse, and also had a narrow escape from being 
wounded in the canteen. At one time, during a brief lull in the 
firing, we recaptured a cannon which the enemy had taken from 
our men the day before, and I helped to drag it away to our lines. 
We had to pass a fallen tree, near which were resting several of 
our men, in their weariness lying and sitting on the ground. They 
all got up as we approached, except one, who appeared to be 
asleep. "Get up here!" said Captain Wilmington, "can't you 
see this cannon coming right over you?" He did not stir. The 
-captain shook him, but still no motion. .Then they turned him 
over, and I saw the brains exuding from a bullet-hole just above 
the right eye; he was dead — cold and stark. 

Between nine and ten o'clock, under a perfect tempest of shot 
and shell from two of the enemy's batteries, scarcely six hundred 
yards distant, our brigade began to waver, and more than once I 
thought it must yield— the fire was so hot, and we had not one 



574 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

canuon wlicrewitli to answer it. I knew that help had been sent 
for, and looking around over my right shoulder, with what joy I 
saw artillery coming through the woods at a gallop ! It was 
Captain Terrill's battery of regulars, just up from Savanna by 
boat, with Terrill himself — splendid officer and soul of knightliest 
honor — riding ahead of it. He dashed out to the edge of the 
wood, and, with a single sweep of the eye taking in the whole 
situation, waved his hand for the battery to wheel into position, 
and in less than two minutes was hurling shell across the orchard 
into the rebel ranks. His second shot blew up a caisson, and in 
an incredibly short space of time our line was sensible of great 
relief. 

How it carried me back to other times, and yet not happier 
ones, to hear, amid the roar and racket of the battle, the well- 
remembered voice of the censor of the Burritt Society, at Farmer's 
College, now giving the words of command to a section of Terrill's 
battery ! Ludlow fought his pieces splendidly, and part of his 
honors we claimed, because he was once the " Little Corporal " of 
our own Company A. 

When our division halted, at rest in line of battle, after having 
cleared its immediate front of rebels, I saw many of our jaded men 
asleep upon the ground, although, at no great distance upon the 
right, the battle was still dinning in our ears. I was lucky in 
getting a place at the foot of a sapling, where, with my arms 
folded over my faithful Enfield, I dozed quite comfortably for 
about ten minutes. The division afterward moved out the Ham- 
burg road, through the camps of Stuart's brigade, nearly to the 
Lick Creek ford, meeting on the way a man belonging to some 
Iowa regiment, whose right eye had been shot out. His face be- 
ing covered with blood and terribly disfigured, he presented a 
ghastly spectacle. After supper, Goettle and I went down to a 
ravine just beyond our halting place, and found several hospital 
tents there, put up by the rebels, of course, and crowded with 
wounded, whose groana and cries would have melted a heart of 
stone. When we came back, the company had gone out on picket, 
but no one could tell us where, and we were not sorry to have to 
stay behind with the rest of the regiment. The night was rainy 
and very dark. Sergeant Cormany told us next morning that, 
wishing to change his picket station for one more sheltered, he 
stepped to a neighboring tree, and sat down upon a log, as he sup- 



BATTLE-PICTURES FROM SHILOH. 575 

posed it to be, but which daylight revealed as a dead rebel, lyintr 
upon his face at the foot of the tree. 

Next morning, the men vrere roused before daylight, and the 
whole division formed in line of battle; but as soon as it was dis- 
covered that the rebels were still retreating, we moved back to the 
camping grounds of Stuart's brigade, and the Sixth Ohio began 
making itself comfortable in and near the old camp of the Seventy- 
first Ohio. A squad of Snivelers — for that was the name of our 
mess — built a fire at an old stump, and had just boiled their much- 
needed cofiee, when General Nelson rode up and dismounted at 
Colonel Anderson's quarters, under a tree, near by. Little Davy, 
our corporal, said that if he only had some sugar to put in it,, he 
would ofi'er the General a cup of coffee. I supplied him with 
sugar, and, blushing like a girl, Davy gracefully tendered the Gen- 
eral his tin-cup, full, fragrant, and steaming with a decoction of 
genuine Rio. Nelson took the cup with the blandest of thanks, 
his whole face lighting up as he did so. He afto^-ward brought the 
cup back himself, praised the coffee, and told Davy he had never 
tasted any thing in his life that did him more good — it was just 
what he had been wanting. It was a trifling incident, yet I shall 
never forget it; and whenever I hear men talking about the bru- 
tality and coarseness of General Nelson, that scene always rises 
before me, as distinct as though I had just witnessed it. 

Heavy details began burying the dead that same afternoon. On 
our immediate front, at least, the rebels were generally buried first, 
the Union dead being left longer, in order to afford surviving 
friends opportunities for recognizing them. A hundred yards from 
Company B's place of bivouac, the burial party dug a trench about 
fifty feet long, six feet wide, and three or four feet deep, toward 
which they continued bringing rebel dead nearly all the afternoon. 
I saw more than twenty bodies lying on the edge of the trench at 
one time. One corpse was that of a handsome, intelligent looking 
man, with a fine forehead and jet-black hair. He had both legs 
broken by a cannon-ball, and having somehow got his trowsers off, 
he was in white cotton drawers only, and they were stiff with 
blood. The face was very white — he must have bled to death within 
five minutes after being struck. The bodies were laid, side by 
side, upon their backs, in the bottom of the trench, and the earth 
being shoveled in, a little heap of yellow clay was all that remained 
to mark the nameless sepulcher of our country's enemies. Our 



576 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

own dead were buried with more care. A favorite method of pre- 
paring them for interment was to fasten the arms across the breast 
with the cross-b6lt from the man's own equipment, and the knees 
close together with his cartridge-box belt. Many were buried 
singly, and all those who could be identified had rough head-boards 
planted over them, made from the sides of cracker-boxes, barrel- 
staves, and the like, while, in other cases, a pen of rails was built 
around the grave. Many a mausoleum on which a fortune was 
lavished has been less honored than these rude devices were, as 
the shrines of true and unforgetting affection. 

To my mind, the most awful sights upon the field of Shiloh were 
discovered in those parts of the wood where the leaves and brush- 
wood had been set on fire by the gun-boat shells. There many a 
blackened corpse was found, with the clothing burnt to a cinder 
upon it, and the features swollen and discolored past all recogni- 
tion ; and some of these were in such attitudes as to compel the 
sickening fear that death must have come in more dreadful form 
than even the wounds which stretched them helpless on the earth. 
One fearful spot that our brigade fought over was a ravine, that 
we named the Valley of Death, near the peach orchard before men- 
tioned. It was thickly strewn with Union dead, chiefly from the 
Ninth Illinois, Company B of which regiment had been flanked in 
that position, as appearances indicated, and had left more than 
twenty of its members, including First Lieutenant Vogel, lying 
there, within less than the length of one-fourth the regimental front. 
One of them, George L. Lehr — I remember the name perfectly — 
lay upon his back (as did a lai-ge majority of all the dead that I 
saw) with a letter clutched firmly in his right hand, which was 
thrown across his breast, as if to furnish the means of identifica- 
tion to any who should find his corpse. It was Thursday noon 
before the last of the dead were buried, by which time a ghastly 
green mold had overspread their features. More than a week after 
the battle, our company, when on picket, found and buried a corpse 
in a swampy thicket beyond the old camp of the Seventy-first Ohio ; 
also, an unexploded thirty-two pound shell from one of the gun- 
boats. 

A workman, says a homely proverb, is known by his chips. In 
a log-hut, back at the landing, our regimental surgeon — " the Great 
Eastern," as our boys used irreverently to call him — was kept busy 
for two days and nights after the battle, in cutting off legs and 



BATTLE-PICTURES FROM SHILOH. 577 

arms, and finally aeeunuilated a pile of those dissevered members, 
just outside the door, nearly three feet high. Thank God, although 
my lot was afterward to learn, by terrible experieuce, the agonies 
that a wounded man can undergo, yet live, I was not one of the 
helpless, neglected sufferers sent northward from the field of Shiloh. 



AX OFFICER'S RECOLLECTIONS.— (Private MS.) 

Reaching the river opposite Pittsburg Landing, 

we saw the battle right before us. Drums were beating, musketry 
crashed aud crackled incessantly, artillery answered artillery, and 
the rebel shells were even beginning to drop upon our side of the 

Tennessee Of our regiment, three companies went 

over first: Company A, Captain Westcott; Company F, Lieutenant 
Thatcher, aud Company D, Lieutenant Gee. The rest of the regi- 
ment was to follow by another boat. That on which we embarked 
was nearly full of wounded men, but our boys felt that there was 
work to do, and hardly stopped to look at them. The boat lauded; 
my company was the first to get off, and up the narrow road to 
the top of the bluff we went, with Company D behind us. Com- 
pany A, being on the hurricane deck, could not get off so quickly, 
but followed immediately. Captain AVestcott at its head. As we 
hurried up the bank, some of the wounded greeted us with re- 
marks that did the boys good. One, whose side was torn open 
by a shell, said : " God bless those men ! they mean business ! 
Just see how they march ! " Another said : " You 're just in time, 
boys; we'll lick 'em yet!" Thousands upon thousands of able- 
bodied men were there also — the cowards ! They told us we were 
cut to pieces, the battle was lost, etc , and from the wounded men 
alone did we get any encouragement. 

At the top of the bank we met General Nelson. He asked us 
what command we were. I answered, " Three companies of the 
Sixth Ohio." Said he : " Sixth Ohio, I expect a good account 
from you ! Report to Colonel Grose, Thirty-sixth Indiana. South- 
gate (one of his aid^ taken from our regiment), show them where 
to go." We marched to the rear of the Thirty-sixth, which was 
already in Hue. Shells were whizzing overhead, and men were 
being wounded, behind us even. Colonel Grose was in front of 
his regiment, as cool as an iceberg. I told him we had three 
37 



578 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

companies to report to liim. He said he was glad to have us with 
him, and told us where to form, and I then hurried back to the 
men. About a hundred stragglers had been got together lay some 
ofl&cers, and formed just in front of us ; but just at this time a 
shell came plunging along close to our heads, and the stragglers 
scattered quicker thau a flash of lightning. They troubled us no 
more after that. We were ordered to advance ; then the order 
was countermanded, and the Thirty-sixth moved forward alone 
toward a battery, which the rebels were just getting ready to 
charge. The gallant Thirty-sixth gave them the compliments of 
Buell's army, and the first lick from that hard old hitter. General 
Nelson. We advanced to a hollow, a position where we could 
protect the left flank of the Thirty-sixth, but Grose's men did 
not need such help, doing their work most splendidly without us. 
The battle soon died away, and the rebels retired to refresh them- 
selves for the next day's contest, which was to drive us to the 
water's edge. For once, however, they counted too fast. Buell 
was on the ground, and all night long his troops were arriving 
and getting into position for the morrow's struggle. 

About ten o'clock we were ordered in from our station in the 
hollow, to join the regiment, which was then in position in rear 
of a battery. The night was dark as Egypt; no one had any 
supper, and fires were forbidden. The company had just got fixed, 
when orders came for Companies A and F to reconnoiter the 
country in front, and also to see whether the gunboats had the 
correct range. We were not to halt until we found the enemy, 
nor on any account to fire, even if attacked. A countersign and 
rallying cry were furnished us before starting. Captain Bruttoa 
took the first platoon, and I the second ; each threw out a section 
as skirmishers, and out we went, groping along in the darkness 
upon our hands and knees. The moans of the mangled and dying 
were dreadful to hear, and the bravest of our number could not 
help shuddering when, every once in awhile, our hands would 
come in contact with a warm, dead body, or a soft, slimy substance, 
that we knew was clotted blood. Every few minutes the gunboats 
would send a shell shrieking over our heads,, but the noise they 
made was welcome as the voice of a friend. On we went until 
suddenly, ofi" to our right, on Captain Brutton's front, we heard 
the cry, " Who comes thar? " There was no mistaking the accent. 
"Friend, with the countersign," was the answer. "Who comes 



BATTLE-PICTURES FROM SHILOH. 579 

thar?" was repeated, followed the next instant by a volley of 
musketry. Both platooUvS rallied at once. We counted our num- 
ber, and one man was missing — poor Brocksmith could not be 
found. He had received a horrible wound while in the act of 
giving the countersign, never dreaming that he had come upon a 
rebel outpost; and walking, or crawling rapidly, to the rear for help, 
he had missed the company, and gone back without speaking a 
word or making any sign. The next morning we learned that he 
had found his way to the regimental hospital, and died in the arms 
of our hospital steward. 

Moving forward again with increased caution, we came in sight 
of the rebel fires, and then halted. Soon afterward a terrible 
rain storm commenced. We sent iu regular reports, as ordered, 
till early dawn, when our company advanced as skirmishers, to 
find Brocksmith, if possible, as at that time we had not heard a 
word from him. Through the woods the division soon appeared 
in sight, moving in line of battle toward us; and, having no 
definite orders. Captain Brutton and I deployed the whole com- 
pany, and advanced along with the rest of the skirmishers, com- 
prising one company from each regiment in the division, under the 
direction of Captain Brown, of the Second Kentucky. Going on 
through one of the Union camps captured on Sunday, we came to 
a place where, a few hundred yards ahead of us, we saw the rebel 
cavalry moving about among the tents and trees. Skirmishing 
began at once, and the rebels fell back, our men in pursuit, firing 
as they went whenever they could see a good opportunity. Through 
other camps, past our own and rebel hospitals, over the dead and 
wounded, up hill and down, on we went, with the full line of bat- 
tle a few hundred yards behind us. Presently the rebels opened 
on us with artillery — one or two pieces pushed forward some dis- 
tance beyond their main line ; but we continued to press them 
back until we reached an orchard, by which time the firing had 
become hot on both sides. Here the skirmishers of tlie First and 
Second Kentucky gave a cheer and started forward, double-quick. 
Answering with another cheer, away went our boys, too, but had 
not gone very far, when suddenly we found ourselves in a perfect 
hail-storm of bullets. We had rushed up to a rebel line of battle, 
hitherto concealed, and now the gentlemen in gray thought they 
had us. We respectfully declined receiving more of their atten- 
tions until we could meet them on something like equal termsj 



680 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

and hastily withdrew to the edge of the wood, back of the or- 
chard. Soon afterward our company was recalled from the skir- 
mish line, and rejoined the regiment. Then commenced the battle 
in earnest. ...... 



EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER.* 

While crossing the river on Sunday evening, and before we had 
landed, I noticed a lady on the hurricane deck of another boat, 
laden with troops, just by us, who appeared to be expostulating 
■with a group of soldiers. She seemed to be much excited, and 
waved her hand in the direction of the battle. Another young 
woman, on the same boat, was wringing her hands and weeping. 
As our company, in disembarking, passed her, she exclaimed : 
" Men, you must fight for your country, or die ! " The words 
were answered by a cheer. Being landed, we hurried up the 
banks. As I ran by, I thought I would learn from the "reserve" 
what I could of the progress of affairs ; but, looking around, noth- 
ing but mangled men, and terrified aWe-bodied I will pass it 

over. The sickening sight, and the exclamations, " The day is 
lost!" "There is a panic," etc., were beginning to unnerve me, so 
I closed my eyes and ears to all that was going on around, and ran 
along. On top of the bank we were cheered by the sight of Nel- 
son, with his well-known "fatigue" coat and feathered hat. "Sixth 
Ohio, I expect a good account from you ! " "Yes, yes ! hurrah I " 
and our walking pace was changed into a double-quick. 

After hostilities had ceased on Monday evening, our brigade 
marched out beyond the futhermost camps, then in our possession 
again, but presenting a scene of desolation. Soon all were busy 
preparing supper from provisions of the commissaries, which, 
luckily, had not all been carried away by the enemy. I am not a 
friend to fat pork, but it tasted sweet to me that evening. While 
we were getting supper, a flag of truce, consisting of a yellow 
handkerchief tied to a sapling pole, emerged from the woods be- 
yond us. It was carried by a tall Alabamian, who brought with 
it the wounded lieutenant-colonel of the Fiftieth Illinois, borne 

* Written by Sergeant Nicholson, of Company K, Sixth Ohio, and published 
in full in the Cincinnati Commercial, whence it was transferred to the " Rebel- 
lion Record," Vol. IV. 



BATTLE-PICTURES FROM SHILOH. 581 

on a litter. The bearers had pieces of white rags tied on their 
arms, which I learned designated a detail for hospital duty. I 
am glad to be able to say something good of an army of traitors; 
we will "give the devil his due." Andy Hickenlooper tells me that 
one of his corporals, who was wounded, received many attentions 
from the rebels. An officer handed him a rubber blanket, sayiu'' 
that though he himself needed it bad enough, the wounded man 
needed it worse. Others brought him food and water, and wrapped 
him up in woolen blankets. Such instances were not uncommon. 
I had captured an overcoat and blanket on the field, and expected 
to pass the night more comfortably than that of Sunday. Throw- 
ing the cape of the cloak over my head, and rolling myself up in 
the blanket, I was soon in a deep sleep — the only dream I had 
being that every soldier was shaking with the ague; in the midst 
of which I awoke, to find the rain pouring in torrents, and my- 
self lying in a pool of water. Fires were not allowed, and we 

shivered through the remainder of the night 

Great praise is due to the general and staff officers of the Fourth 
Division. Nelson was constantly riding up and down, a conspicu- 
ous mark for sharpshooters, and his aids were flying about in all 
directions in the thickest of the fight. Buell also attended to hia 
business like a true general, riding about all parts of the field. 
" Old Jakey Ammen," our acting brigadier, took matters as quietly 
as if he was only drilling his brigade ; and once having found a 
pile of corn, sat down coolly to hi/sk it fur his horse, not even 
deigning to escape the showers of bullets by seeking the shelter 
of a tree. 



282 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 



IN THE RANKS AT STONE RIVER * 

CHRISTMAS came to us in camp at last. Christmas-day, but 
not the good old Christmas times — social, generous, "merry 
Christmas !" To us it was only December 25, 1862. 

We had been for some weeks quietly encamped near Nashville. 
Almost the entire Army of the Cumberland was in this vicinity, 
stretched away out on the various roads centering here from the 
southward, waiting and watching the rebel Army of Tennessee, 
massed under Bragg at Murfreesboro', thirty miles distant. An 
army of repose, truly ; but it was not the repose of stagnation or 
sloth, as the manifestations of life and life-like energy every-where 
bore abundant testimony. It was only an unwilling passivity, a 
period of needful rest and discipline, while the army could gather 
strength and its chief complete preparations for the work it was 
to do. For days past we had now been under marching orders. 
Even the hour and the order of march had once or twice been set 
— and still we were here. So that when the orderly-sergeant, 
coming to our tent this Christmas night, just after tattoo, peered 
in at the aperture of the door held open with both hands, and 
oracularly pronounced, "Reveille in the morning at four o'clock; 
march at daylight, with three days' rations!" we received the 
announcement with all the philosophical indifference that doubt 
could engender. But this time there was no need to doubt, and 
next morning, December 26, 1862, we moved forward toward 
Murfreesboro'. 

The Army of the Cumberland had lately been divided into three 
corps, since numbered as the Fourteenth, Twentieth, and Twenty- 

*This sketch and its sequel, " In Hospital after Stone River," were originally 
publislifd in Harper's Magazine, for November, 1863, and January, 1864, respec- 
tively. TlK^y were written by a corporal of Company B, Sixth Ohio, during 
convalescence at a general hospital in Ciuciuuati. 



IN THE RANKS AT STONE RIVER. 583 

first, commanded respectively by Major-Geuerals Thomns, McCook, 
and Critteuden. The former two, constituting our center and ri^ht 
wing, advanced upon the roads leading from Nashville to Franklin 
and Nolensville. The route of the latter, as the left wing, was by 
turnpike direct to Murfreesboro' — having, of course, the other 
corps upon its right. Of this corps our division formed a part — 
the " Iron-clad Division," organized by the iron Nelson, whom it 
had followed through a-long campaign of toil and danger. 

The day opened dark and gloomily. Certainly the elements at 
least were not propitious. The soft southerly breezes of the day 
before had roughened into rude, spiteful gusts, blowing from a 
dozen points of the compass all at once — chill, sweeping gusts, that 
came freighted with the breath of coming storms, and great heaving 
masses of clouds, which, drifting slowly along the upper deep, 
covered away out of sight every bit of blue .<ky beyond, and robbed 
even the daylight of all its life, and power, and beauty. Four short 
miles from the camp we were leaving, and seven from Nashville, is 
the State Lunatic Asylum of Tennessee ; but though we led oflF at 
a steady, swinging gait, we had not yet reached it when the storm 
came upon us. A steady, persistent, pouring rain, whose every 
component drop seemed to find a malicious delight in plashing in 
our faces and discovering every practicable breach in the rubber 
blankets under which those of us who were fortunate enough to 
possess them sought to find shelter. Delusive hope! and so we 
presently Ibund it. As the rain grew harder, and the wind settled 
keen from the west, we halted by the road-side, and squatting 
down in the mud or resting our dripping forms against the picket- 
fence, waited nearly an hour. But we had not seen eighteen 
months of field service now for the first time to experience the 
discomforts and hardships of active campaigning, or to learn the 
harder lesson of patience in the midst of untoward circumstances 
which we were powerless to improve. What could we do but 
simply "stand and take it," just as a matter of course — as if we 
were only sponges? I was glad when at length we were ordered 
to "foil in," and the march was resumed. It must have been 
somewhat after noon — the soldier, mind you, is not always able to 
take accurate note of time — when the rain ceased, leaving us 
several hours before night wherein to experience the delights of 
the steaming process, and attain a not very disagreeable condition 
of mere humidity. 



584 THE STORY OF A EEGIMENT. 

Tramp, tramp in tte mud and rain, onward among the old 
scenes made so familiar by last August's campaign, -vritli skir- 
mishers in the advance and flankers upon each side of the column 
— a cautious, well-ordered, determined movement forward. We 
, were not dealing with an enemy wanting either courage or skill. 
Forced back from one outpost after another, those gray-clad 
pickets retired deliberately, compelled us to fight for every half 
mile gained, and made our advance a matter of tedious, wearisome 
detail. Several times during the afternoon our advance battery 
was called into active play to clear the way for the main column, 
and more than one wounded man passed us, borne to the rear by 
two or three stern-looking comrades. Every now and then we 
could hear away otf to the right the report of heavy cannonading, 
and we knew that Thomas and McCook were at work likewise. 
Near the village of Lavergne, midway between Nashville and 
Murfreesboro', we came upon a strong body of rebels, well posted 
in a wood, with the support of artillery, and evidently disposed 
to offer a determined resistance. It was already late in the 
afternoon; a lively exchange of shot and shell, followed by a 
successful charge made by one of the brigades upon our right, 
and our day's work was done. Filing off through the fields to 
our left into a wood of low, scraggy cedar, we formed in line of 
battle, stacked arms, and began our dispositions for the night. 

" Water, water every-where " — every-where but here, where we 
most needed it. I was twenty minutes in finding a little shallow 
pool of rain-water, whence I filled the three canteens slung over 
my shoulder and my quart cup besides, and started back. Sud- 
denly, from the darkness before me, the challenge — 

"Halt! who goes there?" 

It proved to be a picket from my own regiment, and I was 
allowed to pass on — not without devout thankfulness that my 
explorations, innocently extended a quarter of a mile in advance 
of our picket-lines, had not ended in a rueful acquaintance with 
some Southern dungeon. Fires in double or treble rows were 
already flaring and crackling all up and down our lines, and the 
preparation for supper was soon completed. Our haversacks, of 
course, supplied both materials and utensils for cooking. Coffee 
was speedily made in our tin-cups ; a slice of pork transfixed on 
a sharpened stick or ramrod, and held before the flames, formed 
the body of the feast, and with the addition of the inevitable 



IN THE RANKS AT STONE RIVER. 585 

"cracker," all things were ready. We had earned the appetite 
to enjoy it, and we did. Then came the night's bivouac. Teuta 
had been left back at Nashville, and knapsacks, but there was no 
scarcity of blankets and great-coats; so that, though a drizzling 
rain came up again about midnight, Davy* and I— blanket-fellows 
for many months — slept beside a blazing fire right royally. 

The morning was dismal enough, with a raw, chill fog enveloping 
every thing, the trees slowly drip, drip, dripping, and a light rain still 
falling. A hurried breakfast and rolling up of blankets, a care- 
ful inspection and wiping out of our Enfields, and we were ready 
again for work. The task, however, of clearing our front and 
occupying Lavergne fell to the troops upon our right ; and it was 
ten o'clock before our brigade was again on the march, iu a cold, 
driving rain that beat right iu our faces. 

Lavergne was a mass of ruins. Half a dozen of the smaller 
houses still remained; blackened chimneys standing lone and 
desolate above gray beds of ashes — significant monuments of the 
folly and crime of rebellion — told the fate of the rest. It was a 
pitiful exhibition of the devastations of war ; the waste and ruia 
that come with the mere presence of an army, whether of friend 
or foe. Much of this general destruction was the work of a 
reconnoitering expedition pushed out from Nashville several 
weeks previous ; but a rebel occupancy of nearly four months had 
likewise left its traces on every side in the spoil of fences, 
mutilated shrubbery, fields and gardens overrun and trampled 
down, and the unseemly heaps of worthless rubbish' and miscel- 
laneous debris that an abandoned camp always shows. There 
were signs, too, of our own work here — dead horses by the road- 
side, buildings with great holes gaping in their sides where our 
shells had come crashing through, trees splintered and torn, and 
bullet marks in abundance. A little one-story frame structure 
on the left, near the railroad crossing, must have been an especial 
target for our sharpshooters, for one side of it was completely 
riddled. I noticed it particularly, because here was the terminus 
of the telegraph line communicating with head-quarters at Mur- 
freesboro', and in at one of the open windows the wires were still 
extending. 

Rain, rain, rain — would it never cease raining? Plash, plash 



58G THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

througli the mud, occasionally a halt — worse always than the 
inarch — now and tliea a shot or two ahead ; and so, enlivened 
only with disjointed speculations upon the chances for "a fight at 
Murfreesboro'," the day wore on. Our cavalry were doing good 
service in clearing the advance and scouring the woods upon each 
flank, and several times during the day disconsolate-looking 
prisoners were marched past us under guard on their way to 
Nashville. Toward evening the sun came out through the mists 
of the western horizon, and beaming upon us a faint, sickly 
smile, sank away out of sight. We turned ofi" to the right, and 
straggling along up through a wood full of underbrush and fallen 
timber for half a mile or so, rested this second night nine miles 
from Murfreesboro'. Our company was ordered out on picket. 
A dark, chilly night, but without rain; and so, sleeping at the 
reserve post as we all did, except for a single "relief" of an hour 
and a half, with a bed of corn-blades underneath and a well-fed 
fire at our feet, it was not difficult to make out the night quite 
comfortably. 

Next day was Sunday. A beautiful, bright, quiet Sabbath 
morning. Following two such days of amphibious life, how 
delightful it seemed! Here we lay all day, busy in the forenoon 
in distributing rations brought up from the provision train by a 
special detail, and in putting our arms and equipments into prime 
condition again ; in the afternoon basking in the pleasant sunshine, 
and strolling forward occasionally to the crest of the low sweep 
of ridge-land, where a line of outposts had been established when 
we were relieved in the morning. Rebel pickets were in plain 
sight across the meadows and corn-fields, the more daring, indeed, 
within good rifle-range, so as to afi'ord just enough of desultory 
skirmishing to make the work mutvially piquant and entertaining. 
About sundown our line was skillfully pushed forward, and Stew- 
art's Creek, a small stream half a mile from the camping place of 
our regiment, that night separated the hostile pickets. 

A bright frosty morning next day, growing warm and hazy as 
the sun mounted in the east, and under foot muddy enough. 
Cannonading and skirmishing, of course, preliminary to the 
march, and by nine o'clock we were moving again. Across the 
fields, over fences, through thickets, and woods, and jungles of 
weeds innumerable, only at intervals catching a glimpse of the 
turnpike ofi" to our left, along which the main body was easily 



IN THE RANKS AT STONE RIVER. 587 

advancing, wading creeks, pressing forward in little enough of 
order at times, yet the best that was possible, seven good miles 
by the road, and by our route doubtless something more. Our 
enemy did his work well, and so did we. Skirmishing almost 
constantly, gallant advances and steady falling back — altogether 
it was a day of lively work and excitement. Almost too lively, 
too exciting, some of us began to think when about noon a plicll 
came whiz-z-zing between two files in one of our rear companies, 
and buried itself in the dirt a half-dozen yards to our right, 
fortunately without exploding. 

The sun was low in the west when we halted, a little more 
than two miles from Murfreesboro'. Few of us suspected the 
truth ; we were already on what was to be the battle-ground of 
Stone River. AVe were content to rest here for the night ; and 
while the twilight faded away, our mess sat around its bivouac 
fire discussing at once the incidents of the day, the probabilities 
of the morrow, and our suppers. 

"Fall in, Company B! fall in!" 

There was no time for inquiry. We swallowed our coffee, or 
threw it away if too warm for that, and swinging on our e(iuip- 
ments formed in line, ready — for what? Nobody knew; but 
presently the word was passed down the line that we were to go 
on into Murfreesboro' that night. Noiselessly as possible we 
moved forward to the edge of the woods, a piece of level, grassy 
ground, almost cleared of trees, and waited till the hours wore 
far toward midnight. At last permission came to bivouac where 
we lay. I must confess that those were anxious hours for me. 
Our outmost line of pickets was not three hundred yards in 
advance, and twice that distance, we had good reason to believe, 
would bring us full upon a strong picket force of the enemy — 
how strong it was impossible to determine. There were rebel 
camps, too, certainly within a mile. We could see the light of 
their fires along what must have been a line of considerable 
length, and stepping off a few rods to the right, could catch shouts 
and halloos occasionally, borne upon the breezes swelling from the 
southward, and the busy hum of a distant multitude. Away from 
beyond these came the rumbling of cars upon the railroad track, 
the whistle and the low iclwop-oop of locomotives, and the incessant 
puff, puff of steam works of some kind in Murfreesboro'. Every 
thing in that direction gave token of life and activity. A surprise 



588 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

was not to be thought of. And then the uncertainties, the dim 
horrors, the possible ambuscades, the darkness and the confusion 
of a night attack. It was a prospect that I shrank from. God 
help us, had we attempted to occupy Murfreesboro' that night; 
Big Bethel would have been innocent pastime in the comparison. 

A quiet night after all. The wind rose a little by and by, and 
before midnight it was raining again. Davy and I slept under a 
stout, bushy little oak, whose leaves, all withered and dead as 
they were, still clung to their native twigs, and even at this dead 
of winter sheltered us considerably. 

Daylight came at last, stealing feebly through the clouds. Our 
officers roused us. A raw, disagreeable morning, and, worst of 
all, I had not had time to make coifee when we were called into 
line, and moved forward into the cotton-field between our bivouac 
and the advanced line of picket skirmishers whom we were to 
support and relieve. Ever since the peep of day these had been 
popping away from behind their rail-fence with a harmless 
industry quite admirable, and being popped away at in return, 
with equally innocent results, from behind the railroad embank- 
ment just ahead of them. By and by, however, the sport grew 
more dangerous ; our regiment had two or three wounded at it 
during the day, besides three or four more struck, as we lay there 
in line, by spent balls that came buzzing aboiit our heads and 
buried themselves in the earth all around us. We gave them a 
careless, matter-of-course sort of reception that I am sure was quite 
creditable to our reputation as veterans. But when, late in the 
afternoon, some of the enemy's guns, transferring their attentions 
from a battery of the Fourth Regular Artillery which was attached 
to our brigade, began playing upon us, what a hugging of old 
dirty, damp Mother Earth there was ! Their pieces were in 
beautifully commanding range of us, and it was fortunate that 
their aim was uniforftily too high. We could see their quick 
bursts of flame, usually two at once, away over on an elevation 
against our left — fortunately, always in time to throw ourselves 
on the ground before the report and the whistling of the shells 
overhead reached us, almost together. Most of these shells fell 
in the woods behind us ; but beyond smashing up a single wagon 
that had been pushed forward with either ammunition or pro- 
visions, there was, I believe, no damage done anywhere. This 
state of affairs did not last long. Several of our batteries had been 



IN THE RANKS AT STONE RIVER. 589 

firing briskly at intervals throu-;hout the day, and three of them 
now opening again, our persecutors were glad to retire. 

Off to the right there was much heavier work. It could not 
have been more than half a mile distant, though hidden com- 
pletely by an intervening corner of the woods, whence it came 
swelling sometimes into a genuine roar of battle that reminded us 
vividly of the second day at Shiloh. Rumors toward evening 
began to fly thick and fast. The fighting on our right was the 
repulse of successive charges of the enemy upon one of our 
batteries, or it was the protection of our workmen, who were 
clearing a road for our artillery through the woods to a point 
commanding Murfreesboro' itself; again it was only a resolute 
advance of our skirmishers in the face of a heavy fire. As to the 
disposition of our forces and the plans of our commanders, every 
body had heard a score of positive statements, not one of which 
any body more than half believed, except the lone fact, to which 
they all seemed to bear certain testimony, that the corps of 
McCook and Thomas had marched across from the direction of 
Franklin and Nolensville, and were taking position immediately 
on our right. This was the one grain of reliable truth in a 
wonderful mass of exaggeration and pure invention. As rumors 
multiplied, speculation, of course, grew more active. Should we 
have a battle here on the morroW, or would not the next morning 
find us in peaceful occupation of Murfreesboro', with Bragg in 
headlong retreat southward — somewhere? I have noticed among 
old troops a growing disbelief in the probabilities of actual 
conflict, an almost unconscious, instinctive sort of skepticism as to 
the imminence of battle ; at least this was true of our army. It 
was hardly to be wondered at in troops who had seen the lahorious 
siege of Corinth ended by a peaceful evacuation ; and whose .sub- 
sequent experience in the severe campaign through Kentucky and 
Tennessee, was little more than a constant repetition of decisive 
opportunities thrown away before their eyes by opposing com- 
manders. And so, although there was an always present con- 
sciousness that it miijlit come at any moment, few of our regiment, 
I think, really believed the stern trial by battle so near at hand. 

The day continued to grow colder hourly. About noon there 
were two or three little rain-gusts blown down to us from out 
some heavy masses of clearly-outlined, wintry-looking clouds 
rolling up from the west like great billows ; then the sun looked 



590 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

out upon us once or twice cold and cheerless; the wind, blowing 
bleak from the north-west, rose almost to a gale, and the day left 
us out in that unsheltered cotton-field dreary and comfortless 
enough. There was need now for the blankets and great-coats 
which had hitherto been almost as much burden as service, and 
fires were fed with a fine disregard of the price per hundred of 
fence-rails. Happy was he on this evening who could find a seat 
or a place to lie down before the blaze, neither windward nor 
leeward exactly, but just between the two — where was enough of 
the fire's generous glow without any of its smoke and sparks. 
The night was passing, and despairing of our promised relief by 
another brigade, I gathered a great heap of cotton-stalks for a 
bed, and wrapping up in my blankets, with my feet thrust almost 
into the fire, essayed to sleep. Perhaps I should have succeeded 
in time, when I had grown accustomed to the whistling of that 
cutting night-wind about my head ; but a comrade shortly called 
to me, with the welcome intelligence that our relief was coming 
at last, and we were speedily marched back to the woods for the 
night. Davy, as our senior corporal and ex officio chief of mess, 
quickly seized upon a good stout log whereat to kindle a fire ; 
and we soon had one burning and blazing thirty feet long, upon 
each side of which we ranged, and sat, each upon his own out- 
spread blanket, enjoying it. Ah"! that seems a pleasant night to 
me now, as I look longingly, yet sadly, back to that scene around 
our bivouac fire, the last that our mess ever gathered around. 
Two of our little party of thirteen, by another night's bivouac, 
were quietly sleeping the sleep that knows no waking, and six 
more lay wounded on the battle-field, or, more fortunately, in the 
shelter of a hospital tent. 

The dawn broke in the east by and by, and we were stirring 
again. It was the morning of Wednesday, December 31, 1862. 
There was little firing directly in our front this morning, but 
there was no mistaking the ominous signs of preparation visible 
on every hand ; and when sixty rounds of cartridges had been 
distributed to each, and a special detail told ofi" to bear away the 
wounded, we felt that it meant battle. It must have been about 
the time that the sun was rising, though we could not see it for 
the clouds and fog, when a fierce, irregular cannonading broke 
forth away oflf to our right, the sharp, rattling fire of distant 
musketry filliug every short interval. It was the attack of Har- 



IN THE EANKS AT STONE RIVER. 501 

dee's rebel corps upou our right. Sitting beside our snioldering 
fires we waited and listened, as those sounds of conflict gradually 
grew n'earer, till the sun broke through the lingering damp and 
murk, and came out, bright and gladsome, high up in the eastern 
sky. At last we formed ; then a countermarch in the entangle- 
ments of that cedar thicket; and at "rest" we waited again. 
Presently Rousseau's division came marching slowly by to take 
position a little in advance, just to our right. Other troops were 
in motion every-where. We could hear their cheers swelling up 
from our left and far back to the rear, as Kosecrans' battle-order, 
dated that very morning "Before Murfreesboro', Tennessee," was 
read at the head of each regiment, penned, doubtless, by the 
lamented Garesche, who fell a few hours later, one of that day's 
most illustrious victims. 

Meantime the storm of battle bore steadily toward us. This is 
the time for one to think and feel — before the battle, wheu you 
can see those waves of death come rolling on, wild and wrathful, 
and, knowing the while that you must soon be the rock upou 
which they must beat, have only to stand and passively await the 
shock. But at no time this morning was there much outward 
manifestation of feeling. Men clustered around little fires quickly 
kindled — for the air in those woods was still keen and frosty — 
and smoked and talked discursively of the sunshine and the day's 
events and prospects; and I remember seeing two or three sitting 
apart intently perusing stray copies of some late newspaper; but 
there was little levity, and a settled expression, as of one who 
goes to meet a great responsibility, rested upon almost every face. 
Perhaps a half-hour thus. Then we marched out into the corn- 
field to the left, and somewhat to the rear of that cedar thicket j 
and there, while we waited for a brigade of regulars that brought 
up the rear of Rousseau's division to move, forward and give us 
the clear field for maneuvering, had time for a comprehensive 
glance at the shifting panorama around us. The timber we had 
just left shut us in on the front ; but the open fields behind us, 
and the turnpike all along as far back as we could see it, were 
checkered with dark, moving masses of blue uniforms— here lost 
in the shadows of a wood, there emerging again, in a little dis- 
order, perhaps, but at this distance not discernible— now a brief 
halt, then onward once more — sometimes by a flank, sometimes in 
line — but, in the main, all moving forward toward us. 



592 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

Of all those thousands there was need of every man. Our 
right, surprised and overpowered, had been forced back in dis- 
order ; and Rosecrans, compelled to abandon his matured plans for 
attack, was already making rapid dispositions for mere defense. 
We did not know the half of the perils that this morning's dis- 
asters had heaped around the Army of the Cumberland ; yet there 
was enough about us to show unmistakably that it was no longer 
acting upon the aggressive. Rumor was not prolific, indeed ; but 
worse than that, it was constantly, consistently unfavorable ; and 
the confirmatory evidences of our own eyes were startling. All 
along our left front there was animated skirmish fighting ; upon 
our side, certainly, not an advance. Wounded men were coming 
in from the woods before us, with uniforms torn and bloody, -and 
that peculiarly ghastly expression of countenance that characterizes 
the sufferers on a battle-field ; and the crash of musketry in the 
direction whence they came was growing perceptibly louder and 
nearer almost every minute. 

Yet I hardly thought that our turn had come so soon, when, 
changing front by a rapid movement on our left, " Forward ! " 
rang down the line, and the regiment swept up to the cedar wood, 
into it, and, though for the moment much broken by the under- 
growth, fallen logs, and great protruding boulders, forward still 
for perhaps two hundred yards. The line in advance of us, a 
brigade that had passed us only a few minutes before, had been 
crushed and beaten back, and were drifting toward us in utter 
confusion. Organization and discipline were forgotten ; they were 
fleeing for their lives. A sudden halt, a hurried alignment, such 
as a body of old troops comes to make almost instinctively, and 
then I noticed that our field officers had dismounted and were 
commanding on foot. Company B held the regiment's extreme 
left, and I, in my place, at the head of the second platoo,n, had 
not yet caught a single command, when crash burst a volley from 
our right wing, and was swiftly carried down the line ; and almost 
before I had time to comprehend its meaning, the rebel bullets 
were hissing all about us. We were in action. 

I despair of any adequate description of battle. It is one of 
those things that utterly refuse the investiture of language. One 
may give his hours unceasingly to the study of battle stories, and 
at last have no knowledge of its actual realities. I only know 
that it was terribly, deadly earnest work. There was excitement, 



IN THE RAXKS AT STONE RIVER. 593 

of course, but every mau seemed to understaud his duty and know 
exactly how to do it. I never liad more perl'ect or readier com- 
mand of every faculty in my life. All thought of personal dan- 
ger was over with the firing of the first shot. There was no time 
for fear. Every power of body and mind was bent to the work ; 
every eye strained forward on that line of dingy gray, with its 
banner, broad-barred and faded, flaunting defiantly in the center; 
wavering, reeling, checked completely, as the full weight of our 
fire first poured into their ranks ; then, as it seemed, gathering 
strength from desperation, and pressing steadily toward us. Their 
formation was not our thin, almost unsupported line ; regiment 
followed regiment in deep, massive columns of attack, that forced 
their way forward with a momentum all but irresistible. 

I fired but three times altogether. Oh, the horrible tempest of 
fire in those few moments! Then the incessant din of musketry, 
the ringings in one's ears, the smell and the smoke of gunpowder, 
the defiant cheers, the intensity of intellection, the desperation 
even at last! I had just discharged my second shot, this time upon 
one knee, taking low and deliberate aim, when I heard a call from 
behind. It was our little second lieutenant, soldier true and tried, 
who, mounted upon a boulder and bending slightly forward, was 
looking over our heads toward the rebel line, now not three hun- 
dred yards distant. 

"i^iVe, hoys, fire! They are adcancing! ^^ 

To my dying day I shall never forget the expression of that 
face, so fearful in its intensity, and the concentration of every 
emotion in the one dreadful idea of possible defeat. I reloaded 
and fired again. Just then I caught a glimpse through the trees 
of another line of dusky uniforms advancing toward our left, and, 
like lightning, it flashed upon me that in five minutes more, if 
still unsupported, we should be outflanked. At that moment a 
whistling volley of bullets came over from that new enemy, and 
for me the battle was over. 

I remember no acute sensation of pain, not even any distinct 
shock, only an instantaneous consciousness of having been struck ; 
then my breath came hard and labored, with a croup-like sound, 
and with a dull, aching feeling in my right shoulder, my arm fell 
powerless at my side, and the Enfield dropped from my gra?p. 
I threw my left hand up to my throat, and withdrew it covered 
with the warm, bright-red blood. The end had come at last! 
38 



594 THE STOEY OF A EEGIMENT. 

But, thank God, it was death in battle. Only let me get back out 
of that deathly storm and breathe away the few minutes that were 
left of life in some place of comparative rest and security. It all 
rushed through my mind in an instant. I turned and staggered 
away to the rear ; and, as I did so, a comrade brushed by me, shot 
through the hand, who a moment before was firing away close at 
my side. I saw feeble reeuforcemeuts moving up, and I recollect 
a thrill of joy even then, as I thought that the tide of battle might 
yet be turned, and those rebel masses beaten back. 

But miy work was done. I was growing faint and weak, although 
not yet half-way out of range of fire. A narrow space between 
two massive boulders, over which rested lengthwise the trunk of 
a fallen tree, offered refuge and hope of safety from further dan- 
ger. I crawled into it and lay down to die. I counted the min- 
utes before I must bleed to death. I had no more hope of seeing 
the new year on the morrow than I now have of outliving the next 
century. Thank God, death did not seem so dreadful, now that 
it was come ! And then the sacrifice was not all in vain, falling 
thus in God's own holy cause of freedom. But home and friends 1 
Oh, the rush of thought then'! 

Let the vail be drawn here. The temple of memory has its 
holy place, into which only one's own soul may, once in a great 
season, solemnly enter. 

The battle still raged. Only a little while longer. Then the 
firing slackened and ceased, and I knew that one side must have 
given hack in rapid retreat. But which? I was lying off to the 
left of our direction of advance, so that I had seen nothing except 
only once or twice a wounded man going to the rear, and could 
only take counsel of Hope. Then close upon my right, though I 
still could not see them, the sound of men marching, with shouts 
and cheers, and the confused clamor of a multitude of voices all 
talking at once. It was the rebel host rejoicing over victory. 
What followed I could only conjecture. Since then I have heard 
the whole story. Our regiment had held them until overpowered 
and well-nigh surrounded, giving, meantime, many precious min- 
utes to our batteries to take position; and when presently they 
came, eager and confident, sweeping on out of the woods, across 
the corn and cotton-fields, upon our shattered lines, they met a 
Btorm of missiles — shot and shell, grape and canister, and swarms 



IN THE RAXKS AT STOXE RIVER. 505 

of rifle-balls— that speedily sent tliem in fragmentary masses hack 
througli the woods ^Yhencc they came. 

And so I lay there, with my head pillowed on my blanket, while 
the battle swelled again around and over me — bullets glancing from 
the sides of the stones that sheltered mo, or sinking into tlie log 
above me, and shot and shell crashing through the tree-tops and 
falling all about me. Two shells, I remember, struck scarcely ten 
feet from me, and in their explosion covered me with dirt and 
splinters; but that was all. Still I lived on. I smile now as I 
think of it, how I kept raising my left hand to see if the finger- 
nails were growing white and purple, as they do when one bleeds 
to death, and wondered to find them still warm and ruddy. Hem- 
orrhage must have ceased almost, and the instincts of existence 
said, "Live!" Then came the agony of waiting for removal from 
the field. How I longed and looked for some familiar foce, as our 
men twice chai'ged up into that wood, directly over me ; but they 
belonged to another division, and had other work to do than bear- 
ing off the wounded. But in those intermissions of battle when, 
for several minutes together, there was scarcely a shot from either 
side, why was there no help given us ? Where was the ambulance 
detail of my own regiment, that was made only this morning? 
Perhaps assistance was near, but I, lying off there alone and thus 
hidden away, might be ovorlooked. In my blouse pocket was a 
new knit sleeping-cap, sole luxury of my camp life, sent a month 
before from home. I drew it out, not without some difficulty, and, 
elevating it on a stick, began waving it. But there was no one 
to heed the signal, and by and by I gave it up in despair. 

I had lain down upon my outspread rubber blanket, with my 
overcoat on, in the same dress and equipment with which we had 
gone into action ; but the afternoon sun was losing its power, and 
I began to feel cold and miserable. Presently there was another 
lull at our part of the line, as the battle surged away off along 
the left, and I resolved to make one desperate effort to reach the 
rear. Twice I fell back, unable to rise: but the third attempt was 
successful. To my astonishnlent I found myself able to walk with- 
out much difficulty; but I had no strength to lavish unnoeessarily, 
and reluctantly leaving my blanket, my haversack, and canteen, 
as prizes for some fortunate rebel, I wandered back toward our 
lines. Across those corn and cotton-fields again, now strewn with 



596 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

the dead and wounded — our own blue and the rebel gray mingled 
together — heedless alike of the piteous calls and prayers from every 
Bide for the assistance I could not give, and of the perils of shot 
and shell whistling past me, and at last I reached the turnpike, 
faint and exhausted. A little further down I came to a little, low 
log-cabin, with its strip of red flannel fluttering before it-to indi- 
cate its present use, its two small rooms crowded hours before 
with the wounded and dying, and scores more sitting or lying 
around smoking fires on the outside. Ambulances were coming 
and going, freighted with their precious burden of maimed and 
helpless humanity; and still the wounded were accumulating con- 
stantly. 

I remember the almost hopeless weariness with which I sat 
down before the fire to wait my turn for removal, when a f\imiliar 
voice called me. It was one of my own company, who had escaped 
this morning's ordeal of fire by a fortunate detail a few weeks 
before on the " Pioneer Corps," and whose kindness to me in this 
hour I shall never forget. He took ofi' my cartridge-box, of which 
I had in vain tried to unburden myself, cleared a place by the fire 
for me, rolled up a barrel for me to rest against, and as soon as 
possible procured me a seat in an ambulance ; then, after such 
feeble thanks as I had strength to give him, we were driven ofi". 
The road was blockaded with troops and confused masses of artil- 
lery, ammunition trains, and ambulances ; while stragglers, singly 
or in fragmentary squads, skulked about every-where. The after- 
noon was waning fast, when we finally reached the field hospital 
of our division, which had been established the day before about 
five miles back from Murfreesboro'. It was a motley collection 
of tents — hospital, Sibley, wall, bell, flies, any thing, indeed, that 
could be found and made to afford shelter — pitched in a promis- 
cous heap in a large, open meadow, sloping up from the turnpike 
off to the left. No one could direct us to the hospital of the Sixth 
Ohio, and I was little able to go farther; so a place was presently 
made for me among our comrades of the Ninetieth Ohio, where 
I found needful care and rest at last. In kind, skillful, tenderest 
hands, reader, and though they were strangers all, I felt that I was 
amons: friends at once. 



IN HOSPITAL AFTER STONE EIVER. 597 



IN HOSPITAL AFTER STONE RIVER. 

THERE was scarcely more than an hour of sunshine left on that 
fearful first day at Stone River, when the driver assisted me 
out of the ambulance and gave me in charge of tlie attendants at 
the field hospital of the Ninetieth Ohio. The large, square-made 
hospital tent was already becoming crowded, some of its inmates 
evidently new-comers like myself. At the further end one of the 
surgeons was busily at work bandaging a ghastly wound in the 
arm of a poor wretch, the sleeve of whose blouse, cut away at the 
shoulder and all matted and stiff with gore, was lying on the ground 
beside him. One of the attendants, with both sleeves rolled up 
to the elbows, had just set down a basin of darkly-colored water 
and was assisting the surgeon in securing the bandage. Another 
of the wounded sat on the ground a little behind the group, wait- 
ing with mute patience for his turn to come next. Close by, and 
down upon one knee, was the chaplain,* with a memorandum-book 
and pencil, taking the sufferer's names, with the commands to which 
they respectively belonged, and the home address of the friends of 
each. Not in vain, I thought, was even this last care, for it could 
scarcely be very long before sad occasion to improve it would be 
given by some of our number. 

Tlie surgeonf was soon ready for me, and proceeded to examine 
the wound with evident care and interest. "A very narrow escape, 
young man," he said, at length. " Hardly one in a hundred would 
ever have lived to leave the field with such a wound as that. Do 
you see, chaplain? Right through the base of the neck and be- 
hind the right clavicle, which it has evidently struck and fractured 
just here, and then glancing upward seems to have shattered the 
acromius. How the trachea escaped without serious injury I can 

« Rev. George L. Kalb. t Assist. Surg. C. P. O'Haulou. 



508 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

not see ; and it is a perfect marvel that the subclavian artery here 
was not severed, and that, you know, away from surgical appliances, 
must have been certain death. Young man, you are singularly 
fortuuate." 

Doubtless he spoke the truth. But who that is at all conver- 
sant with army surgery does not know the manifold perils — the 
horrors of secondary. hemorrhage, the i'earful exhaustion produced 
by suppuration, and the many other possibilities quite as imminent 
and dangerous — which lurk in the future of a gunshot wound? 

"A bad wound, doctor, I know; but if I do well, very well, is it 
passible for me to get through?" 

I watched closely the expression of his features, while he seemed 
to be considering a moment for a reply. 

"If you were at home" — he said it gravely and with a sort of 
measured emphasis — " if you were at home, I should not hesitate 
to say, yes; but here in an army hospital, you know, the case is 
difierent. It is more than I should like to promise." 

Little enough, surely, to hope for from these words, and yet my 
heart thanked him as truly as did my tongue for their manly can- 
dor. The wound was soon dressed, though skillfully and carefully ; 
then a few fresh bundles of corn-blades were brought in, the spoil 
of a barn at no great distance ; and on the bed that they made 
when shook up in one corner I sat down with a weary contented- 
ness to find only quiet and rest. A little later one or two more 
of the morning's wounded came in and received the ready care of 
the surgeon, who seemed still unwearied, although many hours of 
continuous labor had afi'orded him no respite, even so much as to 
take a mouthful of food. 

Sunshine disappeared erelong, and looking blankly out through 
the half-open door, toward the, south-west, I could see the crimson 
flush of sunset fading into the dim glimmer of twilight, and then 
darkness came and covered away all. There had been little sus- 
tained firing off" on the battle-field for an hour or more ; only at 
quick intervals a few rapid rounds of artillery, expressive appa- 
rently of exasperation and defiance rather than any earnest work, 
dying away into the irregular, dropping fire of distant musketry. 
It was quite dark, however, before the sounds of battle ceased en- 
tirely, and even through the night there continued to come the 
clear, startling ring of quick-repeated rifle-shots, assuring that 
worn and anxious army of ours of the vigilance of its outposts, 



IX HOSPITAL AFTER STONE RIVER. 59f) 

aud confirming the enemy's unwilling conviction that, though it 
had been taken at fearful disadvantage, forced back in part for 
miles, and scattered apparently in fragmentary confusion, tlie Army 
of the Cumberland was yet unbroken in organization, aud in spirit 
defiant as ever. 

About dusk our suppers were brought in — a cup of coftee and a 
biscuit, aud the wearied attendants bogimiiiig soou after to seek 
their blankets and lie down beside the fire just without the tent 
door, only the two whose watch was in the early half uf tlie night 
remained with us. It was unusually warm for the season, as indeed 
had been the weather for several days past; but the glow of heat 
that the little stove at my feet gave out was quite grateful, though 
requiring the removal to the opposite end of the tent of the flick- 
ering candle which, upheld in the socket of a bayonet stuck into 
the ground, threw a dim, yellow light over all. 

A quieter night than I had anticipated ; yet I could not sleep. 
Home, with all its memories and associations, the cause that I had 
so loved, and in my humble way had served even unto this last ; 
the Past, the trembling Present, the unknown To Bk that seemed 
so near ! How could the body sleep, even had it been at ease, 
when in the soul echoed the march of thoughts so real and solemn ? 
So the night wore on — in thinking, waiting, wondering, in weari- 
ness and pain. The old year was passing away. We were dying 
together. It seemed hard so to die — by sufi"ocation, I thought, 
from internal hemorrhage that was slowly filling my lungs with 
blood. Respiration was almost impossible, except in a sitting pos- 
ture, and propped nearly upright though I was, my breath came 
only with thick, irregular gasps. How the time in those hours of 
suffering seemed to lengthen and linger on ! But midnight came 
at length, and then the new year. Toward morning there was a 
sensible relief of that horrible feeling of sutfocatioii, and 1 dropped 
inta.a brief and broken slumber. 

When I awoke day was breaking chill and gloomily. It was 
Thursday morning, January 1, 18U3. How were they spending 
"Happy New-Year's "—our friends up there in the North? Hap- 
pily ignorant, of course, of the fateful strife that should yet echo 
through how many desolated homes, and thrill with what mingling 
of lofty pride and anguish unutterable how many stricken hearts 1 

There was au angry exchange of picket-shots when it grew 
fairly light, aud at several difi-erent periods throughout the day 



600 THE STORY OF A EEGIMEJsT. 

enougli of the sounds of battle were borne from over tbe open 
fields and meadows to the southward to prove the strife still un- 
decided ; but it was plain that no general engagement was in 
progress. Once or twice, however, the enemy made demonstra- 
tions upon the right of our line, menacing communication with 
Nashville, that seemed to threaten a transfer of the battle directly^ 
to the vicinity of our hospital; and when at one time shells began 
to drop, crashing into the meadow only a little beyond where our 
tents were pitched, the possibilities suggested were by no means 
agreeable. The prospect of capture, at least, seemed far from re- 
mote, and it tended but little to occasion a feeling of security to 
know that on the day previous the enemy had made such a dash, 
and, after holding all the hospitals in this part of the field for 
half an hour or more, were only repelled by the determined hero- 
ism of a body of our cavalry, who reached the ground just in time 
to prevent more serious disasters. Happily our fears were not 
destined to be realized; and those contending armies were in the 
same old sullen attitude of defiance when night came on — dark, 
raining, wretched. Lying there in that hospital tent, snugly 
blanketed, and in less of pain than for many hours, I thought 
with pity of the comrades out in that bleak storm without fire or 
shelter — many of them, indeed, destitute of even blankets and 
food. And the wounded that were still on the field ! 

For me, the two events of Friday morning were the extraction 
of the bullet from my shoulder and writing home — this latter the 
greater work of pain and difiiculty. On the field the day con- 
tinued wet and raw for several hours, giving little promise of any 
decibive action that should relieve the gloom and suspense that 
rested on the hearts of all. The surgeon* coming into the 
tent soon after dinner, we were told that heavy fighting was al- 
most certain to occur before night-fall ; but for hours the quiet of 
the field continued undisturbed, except by the desultory skirmish- 
ing usual to hostile picket-lines in such proximity. Late in the 
day, however, a brisk cannonade sprang up, distinct, uniform, sus- 
tained, but becoming by degx'ees more rapid and irregular. Pres- 
ently a wild, prolonged, tumultuous shout, which, as I sat there 
listening breathlessly, seemed to be drawing momentarily nearer, 
until all at once it was overwhelmed, lost completely, in the out- 
burst of one grand, continuous roll of artillery thunder, laboring 
'■ Dr. Richard N. Tiptou, of Tavlton, Pickaway County, Ohio. 



IN HOSPITAL. AFTER STONE RIVER. 601 

between the earth and sky for expanse sufficient to contain its 
mighty volume. Even at such distance the roar of battle camo 
swelling toward us, burdened with momentous significance of tlie 
salvation or the destruction of the Army of the Cumberland, with 
an awful sublimity beyond all description. Few who were present 
on that Friday evening at Stone River but will recall the scenes 
and sounds of this hour as the grandest and most terrific exaniide 
of the use of field artillery that their experience has ever afforded. 
It was impossible lor such a cannonade to be Idng maintained, but 
when it began to subside somewhat the crash of small arms filled 
every intermission. Suddenly the battle slackened, while one could 
count the reports of the artillery shots, but this was only ibr a few 
moments. Then a loud, fierce yell of triumph — great swelling 
waves of sound surging all up and down a lengthened line — as if 
in that one outburst of passion, hopes and fears, voiceless hith- 
erto, and the bitter resolves begotten of long suspense, had all 
found full expression at last. The hospital attendants were out 
on the rising slope just before the tent door, and from their ex- 
clamations I gathered that tlie nearer portions of the battle-field 
were in distinct view, and through its smoke and apparent confu- 
sion they could catch glimpses of the shifting, struggling masses 
that were there contending. 

^'' They are running ! See, see! Hurrah!" 

The cheer that went up was as much, it seemed, a spontaneous 
gush of enthusiasm as a demonstration of exultant delight, but it 
thrilled my very soul. The rebel hosts had been beaten, swept 
away, ground, as it were, into atoms, and the broken remnants, 
before a grand, sweeping line of charging bayonets, were flying, 
almost without resistance, across the fields and far beyond their 
own position of an hour previous. Doubtless, they thought, as 
the Army of the Cumberland was then thinking, of the Wednes- 
day just past, and well might feel that the avenger of blood was 
upon them. 

The night was already beginning to fall, and half an hour later 
all was quiet and darkness again. A few of the wounded came in 
after supper; the rest were lying uncarcd for out in the miro 
where they had fallen, under the cold rain that was now descend- 
ing. About ten o'clock heavy picket firing ran hurriedly along a 
portion of our line, and continued to quicken for several minutes. 
"Was it a night attack, with all its horrors augmented by the in- 



602 THE STORY OF A EEGIMEXT. 

teuse darkness and tlie storm? That^ on such a night would have 
been the hist resource of desperation. The firing shortly died away, 
however, and nothing but the rumble of long trains of wagons, 
returning to Nashville for supplies, and the liglit plash of the 
rain on the canvas overhead, broke the stillness that had settled 
on all within our hospital tent. 

Saturday morning brought us the glorious particulars of the 
preceding evening's work ; but it was late in the afternoon before 
I found any one who could relieve my anxiety to knov/ how had 
fared in the strife the gallant remnant spared from Wednesday's 
carnage, to rally under the blue banner of the "Guthries" — the 
token of the Queen City's loving pride in the fame of one of its 
own favorite regiments. 

" Only one was hurt in Company B," he said, " and he was killed. 
It was your little corporal." 

It was too true — shot through the left side; only the quick cry 
to a comrade, "Oh, John!" and all was over. It was fitting that 
on the field he had given his life to win he should find his last 
long resting-place. Sincerer mourners never followed the plumed 
hearse in all the array of gorgeous woe than the comrades who, in 
sorrowful, sacred silence, lowered into a soldier's grave all that re- 
mained of little Davy. True friend and comrade tried, he sleeps 
there still. 

Two others of our mess had fallen on Wednesday morning, and 
six more of that little band of thirteen were lying, wounded and 
sufiering, scattered among the hospitals that lined for a weary dis- 
tance the road-side to the rear. The colonel, with a painful flesh- 
wound since the first day's fight, was yet bravely leading what 
remained of the regiment ; but our captain, they said, was in Nash- 
ville, mortally wounded. He lived only a few days. The circum- 
stances of his death greatly affected me when I heard them nar- 
rated, months afterward, by the ward-master ; for I had been his 
company clerk, and knew how true a soul his was. " Much easier," 
he told the surgeon, who was making his morning rounds; but 
when the attendants came to dress the wound, as usual, the cause 
was only too apparent — mortification had begun. A little while 
he lay quiet, as if sinking drowsily to sleep ; then turning upon 
bis side with considerable exertion, he spoke low but distinctly: 

" Good-hy, Hettie ! I am going." 

It was the last efi'ort : he was dead. 



IX HOSPITAL AFTER STONE RIVKPv. 603 

Wynne* came in about duisk, wet and diippini:'. The words of 
greeting were few and quiet euougli ; but oh, how much of satisfied 
longing, and waiting, and hoping there was in his presence alone! 
Roused at midnight by the ominous message, "Wounded severely," 
he had made a few hurried arrangements, stuffed a haversack with 
such simple articles as a thoughtful heart might suggest would bo 
useful, and had. ridden out from Nashville, through mud, and rain, 
and perils not a few from rebel guerrillas, to come to me and be- 
gin those unwearied ministrations through which, thank God ! I 
am alive to-night. 

The night echoed two or three little spiteful gusts of musketry, 
but the Sabbath morning broke bright, serene, lovely, with not a 
shot to disturb its sacred quiet. It was yet early in the forenoon 
when the glad news came, " Murfreesboro' is evacuated and in our 
possession!" Victory, victory at last! Wrung, as it were, from 
the very agony of desperation, where was it ever more nobly won 
than on the red and stubborn field of Stone lliver? 

The first death in our hospital occurred on the morning follow- 
ing. He was a tall, stalwart man, stricken down in the strength 
of manhood, who, after days and nights of tossing agony, passed 
away at last in a kind of quiet stupor. They carried him out in a 
few minutes, wrapped in the blanket that covered him when he 
died; and so, they said, he was buried by the detail whose duty this 
office was. There were several other deaths within the next fort- 
night; one of them more shocking, I thought, than any scene that 
battle itself had ever presented me. It was a boy from an Indiana 
regimen tf belonging to my own division, whose fair and open coun- 
tenance seemed scarcely aff"ected by the exposure of sixteen months 
in the field. In, years he was still young, for he told us one day that 
he was not yet quite eighteen. His wound was in the neck, the bul- 
let passing quite through, and out behind at the right shoulder, and 
so injuring the larynx that it was only with difficulty he could speak, 
even in a whisper. Evidently he was a great suflerer,yet so patient, 
so uncomplaining to the last. Nearly two weeks had passed since 
that memorable Wednesday, when one morning he told the nur.se, 
whom he had beckoned to his side, that his wound was growing very 
painful, and if secondary hemorrhage occurred, as was almost cer- 
tain, he knew that he could not live. He spoke of it with much 

* The writer's brother. t Isaac English, of the Ninth Indiana. 



604 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

composure, as if he felt that death was inevitable, and was resolved 
with that spirit to meet it. As I sat, supported by ponderous rolls 
of blankets that the thoughtful care of one of the attendants had 
procured for me, and awaiting wearily the customary morning 
rounds of the nurses to whom belonged exclusively the duty of 
dressing wounds, I could see every motion of the poor fellow on 
his cot directly opposite. Presently I heard a peculiar strangling 
cough, and looking toward him I saw the nurse bending over him 
and raising him into a sitting posture, while the blood gushed in 
streams from his mouth, his nostrils, and the external wound in 
his throat. The surgeon was called instantly; but his endeavors, 
1 saw, were hopeless. The great carotid artery had sloughed away, 
and in less than five minutes the nurse was supporting only a droop- 
ing corpse. It was a sickening sight, a horrible death. Wounded 
in much the same spot, how soon might not the end of earth come 
so to me? I buried my head in my blankets, and strove to shut 
the scene away from my vision ; but the picture haunted me, and for 
days and weeks afterward it would come to me at times, all ghastly 
and crimson, with a vividness and power that made me shudder. 

The commander of our corps visited us one day, in the course 
of a tour through the hospitals, and I remember well the few 
earnest, manly words that he addressed us, full of encouragement 
and appreciation. The subdued, almost tender, expression of that 
grave face his command had often remarked ; but it never before 
impressed me as so finely, so nobly in accord with place and circum- 
stances as now. It was but a passing moment, of course, but I 
am sure there was hardly one pleasauter episode in all our tedious 
life at that field hospital than Greneral Crittenden's hurried call. 

So the days came and went. The weather was wet and raw, or 
cold and wintry, almost constantly. The battle grew to be an old 
story. From the reports that reached us we learned that the army 
had settled quietly again into the old monotony and routine of 
camp-life, seldom broken but by the occasional duty of guarding 
immense wagon-trains to and from Nashville, from which, of ne- 
cessity, all supplies were thus laboriously transported, until the rail- 
road could be re-opened. After the second week there were fewer 
deaths in the field hospitals. There were fewer inmates, too, from 
other causes, for most of the wounded could bear removal, and 
were being forwarded to Nashville as rapidly as possible. From 
thence, they told us, we were all to be sent directly home. Home ! 



IN HOSPITAL AFTER STONE RIVER. G05 

In that one little word what worlds of happiness and swoct fruition 
of hope and long desire were stored away, awaiting our enjoynieut! 
Hardly the returned exile, retracing the steps and the scenes of 
long, long ago, knows to the full all that the grand old Saxon 
monosyllable can mean to a sufferer in an army hospital ; and al- 
though there may be delight in the burning heart-thrill of the 
traveler, sated with sight-seeing and novelty, 

"As home his footsteps he hath turned 
From wandering on a foreign strand," 

it is faint and pitiful, I have learned to think, compared with the 
one wild, soul-full aspiration, the yearnings unutterable, that come 
with the wounded soldier's thoughts of home. 

Ten days after the battle arrivals from the North began to 
stream in. Individuals, brimming over with congratulations and 
words of cheer for the fortunate brother, or sou, or friend who 
had happily braved the storm of battle, and was here in his place 
at the front to tell the story — or who had come to soothe and com- 
fort his sufferings, if he had survived a less fortunate fate — or to 
perform the last sorrowful task of bereaved affection in the re- 
moval of his clay to the quiet grave-yard at home ; delegations 
from cities and States ; Sanitary Commissions, with welcome sup- 
plies for the needy, or — without ; and once I remember seeing one 
wearing upon his breast a little steel plate, having a simple device 
engraved upon it containing the words, " U. S. Christian Commis- 
sion," with his gray blanket rolled up and slung, soldier-wise, over 
his shoulder, his haversack and canteen by his side, and a tin-cup 
hanging at his belt. 

It was nearly two weeks before my system yielded much to the 
violence it had suffered. Then came a long, sleepless night of 
torture; appetite failed next, and spirits and strength, I could 
daily feel, were deserting me -together. At last Wynne contrived 
iny transfer to Nashville. Skillful, kind, and constant had been 
the care bestowed upon the stranger comrade by those whom now 
I was leaving;* and my feeble thanks, as I tottered out to the am- 
bulance, were but the shadowing forth of a great kindling gratitude 
that will burn continually so long as spirit retains its consciou.snes3. 
The sun was throwing broad, lengthened shadows across the streets 
of Nashville, and though the day had beeu rather warm and genial 

* Especially by George Borden, Company C, Ninetieth Ohio. 



606 THE STOEY OF A REGIMENT. 

since the sky cleared in the morning, the evening air was fresh- 
ening chill and wintry, when the anibuhmce stopped before the iron 
gate of the inclosure of Number Fourteen, and, with a feeling of 
complete exhaustion that I was loath to recognize, I was lifted out 
and borne on a stretcher up into a comfortable, airy room in the 
second story. A kind of sacredness will ever be associated in my 
mind with the remembrance of that little square room, which now 
I was not to leave again for more than three long months. It 
was there that Death drew near and bent over my pillow, so close 
that I could feel his icy breath upon my cheek, while in mute, 
ghostly silence we looked steadfastly each in the other's face for 
weeks together. It was there, too, that the All-Merciful came 
likewise, encircling my sinking frame with an arm all-powerful, 
and spreading about my couch the tokens of a loving-kindness 
ever new and inexhaustible. God be praised ! I was spared to 
live. I 

Here I had come among friends. I knew the surgeon* and 
some of the attendants; the ward- master f was an old mess-mate of 
mine, and Wynne could be with me daily. Resting at last in the 
cot prepared for me, how grateful seemed the fresh, white sheets, 
and the soft, ample pillows ! and how it enhanced the pleasure, 
as I read the print upon each, " From the Soldiers' Aid Society 
of the Ladies of Northern Ohio," to recognize in them the tokens 
that, far removed as duty and distance had made us, yet in the 
faithful woman's heart there at home we were nearer and dearer 
than ever. 

Spite of care and nursing, weakness continued to gain upon me. 
Oh, but to reach home ! One morning I heard footsteps approach- 
ing in the hall without, and the door opened. Wynne entered, 
and, though I could not turn my head to catch a glimpse of his 

companion, I knew the whole truth in an instant — it was S , 

who had come to bring me home. It was too much, and I wept 
like a child. But I was not now to go home. A rebel raid had 
severed railroad connection with Louisville ; and while a fleet of 
steamboats, one of which would bear me northward, lay waiting at 
the wharves for the necessary convoy of a gunboat, the danger that 
I had feared overtook me. 

It was Thursday morning, I recollect, in the first week of Feb- 

* Dr. Fisher W. Ameg. t John Collins, 



IN HOSPITAL AFTER STONE RIVER. 007 

ruary. The night, as usual, had passed wearily and wakeful ; hut 
punctually at six o'clock, just as the first gray glimmer ol' ,l;iwn 
began to steal through the closed shutters, the bugle sounded the 
reveille, and the hospital was all life and stir again. In our soli- 
tary, detached room, occupied by two wounded officers and another 
untitled one besides myself, the nurse was bustling about, busy in 
putting matters in order for the day, when suddenly I felt a pe- 
culiar, quick throb — so it seemed — in the right shoulder, and then 
a warm trickling down the arm. I raised my left hand to my 
shoulder, and, when I removed it, saw that it was besmeared with 
blood. Somehow it scarcely startled me — not that I did not know 
the fearful hazard of secondary hemorrhage — but I called the 
nurse, and he hastened for the surgeon. lie was gone but a little 
while, yet as many moments more and his return would have been 
only to a white, warm corpse. I remember the sensation as viv- 
idly as though its horrors had been but an hour ago. I could 
feel myself sinking away ; a quiet, painless lethargy was stealing 
ovel- my brain ; fixed upon the wall opposite, my eyes saw objects 
dim, trembling, spectral ; in my ears were strange, unearthly ring- 
ings, such as I know not how to liken. Earth was receding — 
eternity at hand. 

"When Wynne comes bid him good-by for me. I am' going at 
last." 

The lieutenant's* voice came distinctly, cheerfully: 

" Never give up, my boy ! You are worth a hundred dead men. 
We'll save you yet." 

The surgeon f and nurse entered the room together. I remem- 
ber closing my eyes with a feeling of utter weariness, and a calm 
desireless content — nothing more. When I came to my senses 
again the ward-master was supporting me with his left arm, and 
with the other hand was emptying a tumbler of raw liquor into 
my mouth, while the surgeon had just succeeded in staunching 
the flow of blood with some powerful styptic. A strange, weird 
sensation — that vague, dreamy return to consciousness. I have 
marveled at it since with my untutored notions of psychology; but 
distinctly predominant over all else came first the thought of up- 
braiding, for their cruel care, the forms that were bending over me. 

* Lieutenant Heston, Seventeenth Kentucky. The other officer was Lieu- 
tenant Wood, Nineteenth Illinois. 
tDr. J. W. Alexander, surgeon of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. 



608 THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

Those moments of syncope, when over my soul had rolled the 
waters of oblivion, I seemed to feel had been a very heaven of 
delight, and it was pitiful service to recall me thence to life and 
suffering again. 

How shall I describe the days and weeks that followed? — the 
infanvtile weakness ; the utter prostration of all the powers of mind 
and body that form the glory and the strength of manhood ; the 
weary days and wakeful nights ; the hopeless endurings of pain ; 
the thousand little nameless miseries that nested in my cot, and 
made it a place of racking torture day and night ? Still less how 
can I hope to find in words the power to tell all that was lavished 
upon the helpless wretch of tender care that never wearied, and 
a devotion which human affection could carry no further? How 
hope to be able to speak, as fain I would, of the long watchings 
and ministries incessant, the kindly, cheery words and loving offices 
of those true, faithful ones about me whose services I know I can 
never repay ? 

I began to rally somewhat in a few days, and, when he could 

stay no longer, S went home without me. My heart was full 

when the farewe^s came to be said that evening ; but, though my 
eyes were dim with tears, and my voice quavered brokenly, it was 
not all for that. My nurse was gifted with an exquisite ear for 
music, and a voice whose melody and pathos linger in my memory 
even now; and the influences of taste and cultivation, with a tem- 
perament gushing with genuine fine feeling, had improved them 
both. To-night Desire — his birth-place was in sunny France, he 
told us — sat by the grate-fire humming over a few simple airs, in 
which he was joined by the two officers, who likewise formed part 
of his charge, and the trio together produced a harmony rather 
sweet and soothing. At length he broke forth into the " Battle- 
Cry of Freedom ; " and, as the others caught up the refrain, the 
notes swelled higher and louder, till time and place seemed well- 
nigh forgotten. The song was a new one to me then, and so sung, 
it thrilled me inexpressibly. The early days of the war ; the 
grand uprising of the loyal North ; the wild, burning enthusiasm 
of Sumter times ; the calm resolves of an earlier period that had 
left but little then to be decided ; the grand infinitude of princi- 
ple — of Right, and Truth, and Justice — that was underlying the 
whole fierce struggle, and had made our cause one that it was, 
oh! how noble a thing to have fought and suffered for, and, if 



IN HOSPITAL AFTER STONE RIVER. 009 

need be, yet to die for! Such memories came surgin;^ back over 
my poor, weak, disordered brain, iu a wild, sweeping rush of feel- 
ing which I was powerless, utterly, to control. 

Day by day the surgeon pronounced me better. By and l)y I 
grew able, with a little assistance, to totter across the room, and 
once more hope revived. But the dull red smear that stained the 
wall right above my cot was a constant reminder of the perils I 
had not yet passed, and forbade any assurance of absolute safety. 
The 22d of February drew near, whereon the mottled loyalty of 
Nashville was to be made manifest by divers demonstrative beto- 
kenings of the most approved usage. On the night preceding it 
Wynne and I talked long together, till I persuaded him to relax 
his vigils so much as to seek a little rest, reclining in a high- 
backed chair placed at my bed-side. I watched him dropping off 
into a transition doze, and wondered if it was yet midnight. Every 
thing was so still I could bear the low hissing of the gas-jet, 
though the flame was hidden by a shade dexterously improvised 
from a folded newspaper, and could note every nibble of a little 
venturesome mouse gnawing away in the bureau which occupied 
the nearest corner of the room. Suddenly I felt a warm gushing 
stream coursing down the breast. I knew its meaning in an in- 
stant — arterial hemorrhage from the superior thyroid. I shouted 
to Wynne, though he wakened at the first sound of my voice. To 
spring from his chair, to rouse the nurse and dispatch him for the 
surgeon, to cut away the covering bandages, was the work of no 
more time than it has taken me to tell it. This time I iras 
alarmed, and the heart, beating fearfully, but poured out its life- 
current the faster. It was well that appliances were at hand, ready 
prepared for such an emergency, for my life hung upon a (|uad- 
ruplicate of minutes. I heard Wynne breathing hard and quick; 
but his hand was steady as he poured on the astringent powder, 
and held it in place with the thumb, first upon one side, then, 
when the crimson stream burst forth likewise at the remoter 
wound, upon both. He succeeded. 

" Thank God, I've saved you ! " And the surgeon, hurrying ia 
a minute later, found a bed all dabbled and soaked with blood, 
and in it, bolstered half-upright, a pale, statue-like wretch, but 
living and suffering still. 

But my story grows wearisome. Again strength slowly niturncd ; 
but weeks afterward gangrene threatened, and then physical endur- 
39 



CIO THE STORY OF A REGIMENT. 

ance seemed exhausted. The bitterness, the despair, the despera- 
tion of that period, I may never attempt to make known to another. 

Desire^ had returned to the field a fortnight before. Not long 
since I saw his name in a daily newspaper; it was heading a list 
of the killed from the Nineteenth Illinois upon the Chickamauga. 
I read it \i'ith a pang of genuine sorrow, and within me another 
voice arose, crying for "vengeance!" 

The spring smiled in due season, and new life, and strength, and 
hope came with it. Out through the window I could see the sun- 
shine resting lovingly upon all external nature, and bathing every 
object in mellow, liquid splendor. Sometimes I fancied that I 
could feel the zephyrs sporting about the room ; and from the 
great, glad, free outdoors came the carol of birds — the robin's 
warbling gush of song, the twitter of swallows, and the chirpings 
of house-martins as they fluttered about the eaves. One Sabbath 
morning my nurse brought me in a fresh, green bough, the ear- 
liest leafage of the spring; and when the flowers began to bloom 
the little table at my bedside was beauteous and fragrant with 
their deckiugs-forth, renewed constantly by fair hands, f that did 
the service of kind and loyal hearts even in Nashville. 

Oh! only to get back to that brave world of life, and joy, and 
beauty again ! The time came at last, and home and friends were 
won once more. 

Truly it was a marvelous deliverance, and now I often wonder 
why it was so signally vouchsafed to me, when others, happier 
and more useful far, by dangers less and more remote, perished 
on every side. The past already grows distant and dream-like; 
but I can never forget the scenes and sufi"erings, or the devotion 
and the care of friends, which have consecrated the memory of 
those times that together make up the recollections of my expe- 
rience " in hospital after Stone River." 

'•'Desire Cheuoweth, Compaay A, Nineteenth Illinois. 

tMrs. D. D. Dickey (since dead) and her sisters, the Misses Uffington. 



APPENDIX. 



ROSTER OF THE INDEPENDENT GUTHRIE GREYS. 



The list of active members of the I. G. G. Battalion (as shown by the 
roll-book) on the 16th of April, 1861, when recruiting began for the three- 
months' Sixth Ohio, was as follows. ( » indicates service in the three- 
months' Sixth Ohio, and unless otherwise specified as a commissioned 
ofi&cer; t indicates similar service in the three-years' Sixth Ohio; }, ia 
some other organization.) This list is, probably, not quite perfect, but is 
as nearly so as circumstances permit the* writer to make it: 



Major (vacancy). 

AdjutHiit, Eliphiilet Loring (naval service).* J 

Quarti'iuiastcr, W . Bvion Carter. 

Pa.Miiasti-r, G. II. Barlxmr. 

Juiij;c .Vdvocate, Jann'8 V. Guthrie. J 

Siirgi-uu, F. H. Klinuaii.*t ; 

Eusign, J. C. Parker ( naval service).* f » 

Sorgeaut-Major, (Jharles C". Piersou. 

OFFICERS OF FIR.ST COMPANY. 

Captain, Marcus \. Weslcott.*t 
First Lieutenant, .liilin M. WilsDn.* 
Seconil Li.iit.naut, Henry Me Alpin.* t 
First .s.-iuraiit, .lames .\l . i>iiiiiAan (also, 

tliree-nionilis term as Kir-t S rg<-ant).+ 
Sergeants, Frank i'ait, Aniuii Baldwin (one- 
liundred days' servicuj J, and Charles E. 
Thorp. 
Corporals, Julius C. Guthrie,* N. L. Ander- 
son *t, Lewis S. Worthiugton*, aud B. It. 
Wilson. 

OFFirj:RS OF SECOND COMPANY. 

Captain, Julian White.* 

First liieutenant, J. Willis Wilmington.* t 

Second LieutiMiant, Thomas S. Kuyse.*t 

First Sergeant, John II. Carter.; 

Sergeants, lleuryH. Tinker *t, Joseph A. An- 
drr'ws (also, three-months' term as First 
Sergeant)*, and Dudley S. Gregory (uot 
commissioned i.*f 

Corporals, Charles B. Russell (also, three- 
montlis' term as Sergeantjt, C. B. Frazier, 
John W. 51organ*t, aud Johu \V. Beesley, 
Jr. (.uot commissioned).* | 



COMRADES (PRIVATES). 
William P. Anderson ^also, three-monlhs' 

teiin as iion-conimissioned olHcer). t; 
C. O. Andnss. 
Janes Bense.*t 
Solomon J. Biilwell (also, throe-mouths" teriu 

as non-commissioned officer). f 
Augustus B. Billerbeck.'t 
A. II. Boeking (naval service).} 
T. .\.Bo>|.x.. 
E. P. Brasher. 
J. ll.Burkliam. 
William I). Burkbam. 
And. S. Burt.; 

John W. Carrigan (not commissioned).* 
Ale.v. C. Christopher.* t 
Jatii'S II. Coelinower (also, both terms aa 

noil -com missioned officer 1. 1 
William Disney (one -bundrud days' service).} 
H. A. Edwards.; 
R. G. Ellis. 
David A. Enyart.; 
Lewis Fiigin, Jr. 
L, .M. Frank. 
William S.(;etfy.*t 
Kinu'^ton (ioddard, Jr. 
Charles II. Ileron.'^t 
Georue llodid, Jr. (.not commissioned).* t 
(;. .M. llnllMird. 
.M. S. Kramer. 
Peter F. Lapham (oni'-hundred days' serrico 

— not commissioned^. ; 
Cliarles Lawrence. 
Amml W. Lord. 
W. W. JlcFarland. ; 
M. M. Muiks. 

(Oil) 



612 



APPENDIX. 



Jules J. Montagnipr.*f 

Augustus G. PHi-kor. 

Chariest!. Pi^ck (also, tliree-months' term).t 

AVilliam H. Pierce (not coDimissioued),*t 

Robert Kitcliie. 

James Y. Scinple (also, three months' term as 

non-coinniis;-ioued officer). + 
Edward M. Slioenuiker.*'' 
Georse S. iSmitli.* J 
Richard Soiithgate.*t 



George B. Tait. 
W. G. Taylor. 
W. y. ToIIiver. 
Hush Tudor. 
W. K. Tudor. 

William Vandivier. ^ 

J. Lluvd Wayne, Jr. (one-hundred days' serv- 
ice).: 
J. \\ inner. 
John W oolcy. * 



The following names appeared upon previous rolls as active members, 
but, ^or various reasons (as resignation, removal, transfer to life honorary 
roll, etc.), had been dropped before the 16th of April, 1861. Among them 
ai*e many remembered as energetic and influential members, some of whom 
retained on active membership up to a very short period before the out- 
break of the war : 



Dr. .T. Adams. 

Frank Alter. 

John H. Anderson. 

Joseph L. Antram (also, three-months' term 

as non-commissioned officer), f 
Harry G. Armstrong. I 
John A. Asliury.* 

T. i\ Baker (um-hundred days' service), t 
James G. Baldwin. { 
John M. Baldwin. 
Thomas W.Baldwin. 
Caleb Bates. I 

D. Viuce Bennett. 
Aaron S. Betts. t 
A. Bevis. 

E.J. Bin ford. 
William K. BosIey.'*t 
Thomas H. Boy Ian.* t 
Cliarles H.Brutton.*t 

E. A. Buck. 

C. J. F. Burley. 
Charles G. Carter. 
Cliarl'-s <■'. Champlin. 
Ed. A. Chandhr. 

C. M. Clienoweth. 
Thomas H. Clienoweth. 
Charles M. Clarke, t 
James M. Clark. 

F. G. Cleneav. 
ehil. B. Cluun.: 
John \V. Cnl.-man. 
John C. Cowplaud. 
John C. Culbertson. t 
Charles Culenkamp. 
S. G. Cuyler. 
Frank S. Davis. 

E. B. Dennison.t 

H. M. Diggins (not commissioned), t 

John Eagan. 

N. W. Emerson. 

Samuel C. Erwin.*t 

D. K.Este, Jr. 
George Eustis. 
Frederick J. Ferris. 
Dr. E. Freeman. 
Lewis French. 
William D. Gallagher. 
I. 0. Gessner. 

C. B.Gill. 

H. B. Gilraore. 
Presley N. Guthrie. 
Matt. Hagen. 
J. C. Hare. 

D. K. Harvey. 

S. T. Hemmiuway. 
J. L. Hill. 
Charles Hofer. 
John F. Hoy.* ft 
H. Huntirrgton. 
Henrv G. Irwin. 
William S. Irwin. 
Charles J. James. 



.Tames A. Johnson. I 

Frank C. Jones (naval service). J 

John J. Jones. 

J. J. Joslyn. I 

L. H. Kellogg. 

H. W. Kemper. 

J. W. Kilbreth. 

James Kincaid. 

John Kru<-ker (not commissioned).*! 

George P. Lawsou. 

F. Li-avitt. 

J. W. Lelnnan. 

Frank Lewis. 

Thatcher Lewis. 

Alexander Lock wood. 

Charles A. Lockwood. 

J. ^S. Lockwood. 

John Logan. 

Ed. Lovell (naval service). * 

John D. Lovell. 

.Tohn J. Lown. 

K. B. Lynch (not commissioned), f 

Joseph .1. McDowell. 

W . B. Mc(uorge. 

Wm. Wilson JMcGrew. 

W. H. Mr Kinney. 

I. B. McLinn. 
M. P. McQuillan. 
C. H. Mar.sliall. 
A. Martin. X 

Frederirk H. Mellen (not commissioned), t 

A.J. Morrell. 

Charles Mudge. 

W. C. Neff. 

Samuel B. Neill. 

William P. Noble. 

Joseph N. Oliver. 

Daniel Price. 

James H Price. 

■\ViHiam W. Price. 

William M.Pursell. 

SI. Ranger. 

James M. Reynolds.! 

Alex. L. Riclimond. 

Anthony 0. Russell.* t 

Daniel 8ayer. 

Lehman Sehloss. 

Dr. ,'^ainnil ."se-xton. t 

George Sharp. 

II. L. Sinuiuton. 
J. J. Slocum. 
Albert h. Smith. 
Walter J. Smith. 
J, A. Stevens. 
George K. Stillmau. 

J. H. Strattim (not commissioned).*! 

S. S. Stratton. 

Charles W. Snllivan. 

Tru.xton T. Swift. 

Ezekiel ll.Tatem.*t 

S. C. J. Thayer. 

David Thomas. 



APPE^'DIX. 



613 



p. B. Umstead. 
AVilliam (). Vallette. 
Jaiiu's F. Vintuii. 
David S. Wallace. 
Thomas C. Ware. 
George B. Weidler. 



William B. M'ella. 
('ar|f>t<>M White. 
Maviil Wil,<,x. 
AaiHii W i|,.v. 
W . W . Wiii'der. 



EOSTER OF THE SIXTH OHIO (THKEE- YEARS' TERM). 



The rosters following are made np from the muster-out rolls on file in 
the Adjutant-General's Office, at Columbus. Occasional iuaccurucies in 
dates and the spelling of namus may, perhaps, be found, and, of course, 
must be in those cases where the muster-out roll is in error. Members of 
the regiment will confer a favor upon the writer by calling his atientioa 
to them, in order that the proper corrections may be made in subsequent 
editions, should any be called for. 

The writer has been unable to procure a roster of the three-months' Sixth 
Ohio. (See foot-note on page 37.) 



FIELD AND STAFF. 
Mustered mil tcUh Regimeitl. 
Colonel, N. L. Aiidoison. 
JjiciitciiaHt-CuIoiii'I, Alex. C. Christopher. 
Ma.inr, Jarn^-s li.iisr. 
t^iir!,^Miii, Alt'ifil Jl. .Stephens. 
First Assistant .Siii-geon, Israel Bedell. 
Adjutant, Everett S. Throop. 
Kegiuieutal Quartermaster, Josiah W. Slan- 
ker. 

Sergeant-Major, Frank H. Mellen. 
Quartermaster-Sergeant, Edwiu A. Hauiia- 

ford. 
Crpnimissary-Sergeant, Julius L. Stuart. 
llcispitiil Sti'wanl, Cliarles E. Lewis. 
Principal Musician, George W. I'vne. 

Charles U. BuelteL 

Killed. 
Major Samuel C. Erwin, Nov. 25, 1S63. 
Adjutant Albert G. Williams, Dec. 31, 1862. 

Resigimd, 
Major Anthonv 0. Russell, Feb. 2<, 1W.3. 
Aiijutant Charles H. HiTon, Aug. 1, ls(i2. 
QuartPimaster Edward -M. Shoemaker, Oct. 

Assistant Surgeon Fisher W. Ames, June 12, 

lf«3. 
Assistant Surgeon Wm. W. Fountain, Aug. 8, 

IStii. 

Bouorahljj DUcharyed. 

Colonel Wm. K. Bosley, Aug. I'.i, 1862. 
PriiK-ipal Musician Jacob A. Filer, Nov. 21, 

lt«2. 
Principal Musician Benj. F. Phillips, Nov. 21, 

1862. 

Promoted (Commifsioned in the ReffimeiU). 

Sergeant-Major W. P. Anderson, Aug. .3, "61. 
^' " Wm. E.Sb.ridau Drc. I-.', '62. 

" " Ui'urv li.e, .'March 20, l'<ii2. 

" " A. G. Williams, June 3, I.-<ii2. 

'• " James F. Irwin, Nov.S, I,sii2. 

" " Jas. F. Graham, Jau. 10, 'Ui. 



Quartermaster-Sergeant Chas. C. Peck, Dec. 

12, 1861. 
Quartermaster-Sergeant Wm. K. Goodnough, 

.April 22, 1*63. 
Comuiisgarv-Sergeant Josiah W. Slauker, 

Jau. 12, 1863. 

Tratviferted. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant Kubcrt W. Wise, 
May 31, 1862. 

' COMPiVNY A. 

MuKtercd out with ReaittietU. 
Captain Frank 8. ScliietVer. 
First Lieutenant James K. Ileynolds. 
Secoud " Wm. R. Goodnough. 

First .Sergeant Tlenry A. Petty. 
Sergi'aut .loliu W. Jtoore. 
Edwin Edwards. 
" Robert G. Iielanev 

" Brian P. <'rilrliell. 

Corporal John .\. (Pushing. 
Private Wm. P. Babbitt. 
" Thi'odop- Creager. 
" Alex. Drennen. 

Cha.s. F. Dressel. 
" John A. Forbes. 
Darius H. Gales. 
John W. IlusMV. 
" (ieorge C. .1.1 rues. 
Mu-haeiJ. Kelli.y. 
" Charles I). .Marlindalo. 
" Charles Mi-Kserschmidt. 
" Isaac Newman. 
" Christopher Uoth. 
" Clement Schwarte. 
" Theodore W. .Seib. 
" (Hiver H. P. Tracy. 
" James Vali-nline. 
John A. West. 
Henry W. Wilson. 

African undercook James Malone. 

Recruit* ( Traru/erred Junt 7, 186(). 
Private Henry Coon. 
" Wm. Du Churms. 



614 



APPENDIX. 



Killed, and Died of Wounds. 
Second Lieut. Oihs. H. Foster, Dec. .'.l, 1S62. 
Sergeant .laiii.s F. ('Hiiiidv, Jun. 29, ISS'.. 
Corporal Kirklaiid \V. Cowiri!?, Oct. 7, 1863. 
Private Frank 15. I'.n.wii, Nov. 9, 18ty. 

" Frank II. Hallidav, Feb. 1. lSi33. 

" Mhn. Kroluncr, Jan. 7, 1863. 

" Kawiii B. O'Brian, Dec. 12, 18(i3. 

" Wm. S. Sliaw, Dec. 31, 1862. 

Died of Disease. 
Corporal .James BI. Newman, March 20, 1864. 
Private Henry Daggert, June 23, 1862. 

Officers Resigned and Honorably DiscJiarged. 
Captain Marcus A. Wesfcott, Marcli 9, 1863. 
" t'lias. Gilman (wouinls), Dec. 26, 63. 
Second Lieut. Wni. P. Andei'sou (.promoted 

A. A. G.), Sept. 1.5, 1862. 

Transferred. 
First Lieut. Henry McAlpin (promoted), to 

Co. B, July 6, 1862. 
First Lieut. Jonathan Burt Holmes, to Co. B, 

May 1, 1863. 
Second Lieut. .Tames M. Donovan (promoted), 

to Co. E, Sept. 22, 1861. 
Second Lieut. George T. Lewis, to Co. I, May 

I, 1863. 

First Sergeant F. H. Mellen (appointed Ser- 
geant-MaJor), April 1, 1863. 

Private J. A. Fifer (appointed Chief Musi- 
cian), Dec. 1, 1861. 

Private Chas. C. Peck (appointed Q. M. -Ser- 
geant), Dec. 1, 1861. 

Private Benj. F. Phillips (appointed Chief 
Musician), Dec. 1,,1861. 

Private George W. Pyne (appointed Chief Mu- 
sician), July 5, 1863. 

Private J. W. Slanker (appointed Commis- 
sary-Sergeant), Aug. 27, 1862. 

Private J. L. Stuart (appointed Commissary- 
Sergeant), Feb. 2, 1863. 

Private James Harrahan, to V. K. Corps, 

March l.'j, M;4. 
Private Henrj Herman, to V. K. Corps, Jan. 

II, 1864. 

Discharged ( * signifies for promotion in Sixth 

Ohio, and i for promotion inother commands'). 
First Sergeant J. B. Holmes,* Nov. 13, 1862. 
" " TIlos. H. Huut.t Oct. 10, 1861. 

" " E. S. Throop,* Feb. 4, 1863. 

Sergeant (^has. D. Jones, t Oct. HI, 1861. 
Albert De Villia, Feb. 26, 1863. 
Corp. Jos. A. Culbertsou,t Oct. 10, 1861. 
" Frank K. Jones, t June 29, 1861. 
" Chas. Loomis,t Oct. 13, 1861. 
" Israel Ludlow t June 2r>, 1861. 
" Channing Richards,! Oct. Ill, 1861. 
Private Wm. Bradforil,t Aug. 27, 1861. 

" Jos. A. Christman, May 2:5, 1862. 

" Henry M. rist ,t Oct. 10, 1861. 

" Frank K. Davis, Feb. 2, 1863. 

" Geo. D. De CharnisT Dec. 31, 1861. 

" Isaac H. De Long, Nov. ir>, 1863. 

" Chas. M. Evans, Nov. 4, 1863. 

" James B. Fain-hild, June 14, 1862. 

" Theodore ('. Fitch, t April 17, 186.3. 

" Thos. FitzgibboM, F.-b. 18, 1863. 

" Lee M. Fitzhugb.T April 15, 1862. 

" Louis A. Foot, June 13, 1863. 

" Wood Fosdick,! ^^ept. 10, 1861. 

" Spencer Franklin, t Nov. 23, 1861. 

" John W. Gamble, Dec. 1, 1862. 

" Welcome I.. F. (iates, Dec. 4, 1862. 

" Dudl.v S. (;n'i;.)rv, Oct. 5, ISil. 

" Wm. Mrh. {i\\\ nnc,t Oct. 5, 1861. 

" llenrv F. Hawkes,t Si^pt. 10, 1861. 

" Geo. Hodel, Dec. 18, 18li2. 

" Ilenrv Hook, April 21, 1862. 

" Wm. H. Jenkin-s Aug. 27, 1861. 

" Chas. Kiusc'y.t Nov. 24. 1^)2. 

" John Krucker.t Oct. 10, 1861. 



Private David Love, Feb. 7, 1S62. 

" Edward Manser,t Oct. 18, 1S61. 
" John E. Miner, Oct. 10, 1861. 
" EliasR. iMonfort.tOct.o, 1861. 
" James Moore, Jan. 19, 1863. 

Kobert P. Moore,t Feb. 2, 1863. 
" L>-vi Newkirk, Sept. 27, 1861. 
" Waller W. Paddock, Feb. 7, 1S63. 
" Sruuuel H. Perry .t Oct. 23, 1861. 
" James K. Kcynolds,* Nov. 24, 1862. 
" Edward S. liii hards, f April 16, 1862. 
" Herman Kod^l, Feb. 7, 1863. 
" Thomas 31. Sclbv.t Mav 6, 1662. 

Pet.r Sloiw, -Maicli 9, mV.i. 

Edwin r. .--niith.t .\ug. 24, 1861. 
" John 1!. Strwiirf, April 16, 1863. 

Cha.s. M. ■|li..ni|.son. Marcli 10, 1863. 
" Tho.v. W. Veatih, Nov. 28, 1862. 

AlfrcMi W'rsf, May 23, 1862. 
" Byron D. West,! April 12, 1862. 

Dropped, etc. 
Corporal Jos. Reel, June 30, 1863. 
Private Samuel N. CoUings, Dec. 9, 1861. 

" Henrv M. Lewis (date not known). 

" ( lenient H. Marzerretta, Sept. 10, '62. 

" Clias. D. Murdoch, Oct. 31, 1862. 

" Edwin L. Smith, Dec. 9, 1861. 
Wagoner George W. Kelley, Oct. 31, 1862. 

C031PANY B. 

Mustered out with Regiment, 
Captain Henry C. Choate. 
First Lieut. J. Burt Holmes. 

First Sergeant Geo. B. Young. 
Sergeant Thos. M. Carr. 
Fred. J. Miller. 
" Guv C. Nearing. 
Henry M. Palm. 
Corporal Joliu Harvey. 
" Louis N. Kibby. 
" David Sclireiber. 
" Fred. Rodenberg. 
Henry VV. Kahle. 
Waconer Michael Coleman. 
Private John Alves. 
" John C. Bagott. 
" Wm. Barmr. 
" Will Reed Bartlctt. 
" Christian Behrens. 
" Alonzo Burgovne. 
" Carlton I '. Cable. 
" Thomas M. Cleveland. 
J. din Cline. 
Wm. E. Doherty. 
R. Rush Drake. 
J(dinDufley. 
" ('has. Fitzwater. 
" Emil Fritz. 
" Horace Gates. 
" Albert Goettle. 

John Keiss. 
" Si-bii>tian Lerg. 
" Hiram :\Iarsh. 
" Daiiiid T. Miles. 

llenrv Miller. 
" James MitchelL 
Wm. M.Owen. 
Louis X. Reif. 
" Robert Ilippon. 
" Adam Robe. 

Robert r.owell. 
" Andrew Schuttenhelm. 
" Lemuel F. Smith (detached in Janu- 
ary, 1863, and never reported after- 
ward). 
" Josiah H. Stratton. 
" Moses Tlianhauser. 
" James Warren. 
" James B. Watkins. 

Edward Wells. 
" J. Richard Williamson. 
" John Adam Ziegler (prisoner of war 
at muster-out). 



APPENDIX. 



615 



African undercook Pinlv Beaslcr. 
'■ " Dauiel Jennings. 

Recniit(lra)Viferred June 7, 1854). 
Private Wilson Rowell. 

Jlfiss(H(7 m Action. 
Private Benj. F. Lewis, Nov. 25, 1863. 
" John Loglle, April 7, 18i>3. 

Killed, and Died of Woinids. 
Captain Henry Mc.Mpin, Jan. 10, 1SC3. 
Corporal Phil. B. Helf-nliein, Sept. HI, 18C3. 
David U. Medary, Jan. 2, 1863. 
" Kdwin H. Kowe, Sept. IM, 1S63. 
Private Kicli:ir.l K. Allen, Sept. I'.i, ISiVJ. 
" Jolin .\.ul.lerliei(le, Sept. L'3, l,y,3. 
" John BcMTst, Dee. :;i, l-;i;2. 
" Albert Hardy, Doe. 31, ls(;2. 

Died of Disease. 
Private Michael Behrmau, Aug. 3, 1863. 

Officers Resigned and Honorahly Discharged, 
Captain Jos. A. Andrews, April 22, 1S62. 

" Jules .1. Montagnier (wouuds), Feb. 
18, 1863. 
Second Lieut. Wesley B. McLane, Oct. 25, '03. 
" " Thos. S. Ruj be, April 11, 1862. 

Transferred. 
First Lieut. James K. Reynolds (detarlied 

and never served witli Co.), to Co. A, Slay 1, 

18t;3. 
First Lieut. Clias. B. Russell (promoted), to 

Co. D, Nov. 28, 1862. 
Second Lieut. Albert G. Williams (promoted), 

to .\djufaut, Nov. 20, 1862. 
Private Robert Andrew, to Co. n, June 19, 

1861. 
Private Edwin A. Hannaford (appointed Q. 

M. -Sergeant), May 2, 1863. 

Sergeant Wm. J. Thorp, to V. K. Corps, Sept. 

.30, ist)3. 
Corporal E. Ilannaford, to V. R. Corps, Deo. 

1, 18ti3. 
Private Chas. Burckhardt, to V. R. Corps, 

Aug. 1, 1863. 
Private Auson Clapper, to V. R. Corps, Oct. 

31, 18ti3. 

Discharged (* signifes for promotion in Sixth 
Ohio, and t jor promotion in other com- 
mands). 
First Sergeant George W. Cormany,* Feb. 4, 

18tV3. 
First Sergeant Clias. H. Foster,* Aug. 1, 1862. 
" •• James Y. Semple,t Sept. 6, id. 

Sergeant Hibbard U. Uenilrieks, Dec. 4, 1862. 
^' Stephen A. Thayer,! Jan. 9, 1862. 

" Edmund B. Warren,* July I, I,-J62. 

Corporal Edward BuUnian, March 25, l.S(>3. 

John R. Taylor, Oct. 22, 1862. 
Musician Uustave Frank'-, Marcli 2.">, ISiV?. 
Private Edwin H. Andrews, Jan. 11, 18tVJ. 
" John 1 ollins, Jan. 20, 1863. 

Theophilus Davis, April H, IS6.3. 
" Edward F. Gettier,* Dec. 2U, 1861. 
" Jacob Itannenian, July 27, lNi3. 
" John lleltenbein, June 22, 1863. 
" Hugo Hochstaedter, Sept. —, 1863. . 
" Henry P. Jones, Oct. 4, 1862. 
" Henry Kiess, May 23, 1861. 
" Jos. Loeser, .Ian. 17, 1862. 
" John 1'. Marion, Sept. -, 1862. 
" Paul Merker, Aug. 22, 18"2. 

Arthur A. Parker, July 31, 1-62. 
" Henrv E. Roberts, March 19, 1863. 
Samuel D. Schoidey.t Aug. 26, 1862. 
" Fred. H. Snielhurst, .March 12, 1863. 
" Wm. J. Souther, May 6, 18(>3. 

Wm. H. Windeler.t Sept. 7, 1S62. 
" Samuel R. Wiuram, Dec. 27, 1862. 



Dropped, etc. 
Corporal Chas. W. Tolle, Aug. 18, lsrt2. 
I'riviite Si|uire D. Crav, Nov. l.'i, 1ni3. 
J.iioh n..uck, Oct. 1, 1.N-.2. 
Ellis K. 1,1, .Ml, Oct. I, l^62. 
" \\ m A. .'M:il.. nee, Sept. I, 1861. 
" Noiih 11. I'hillips, .lune 19, 1*1. 

Joseph Sehol,.s, Dec. I. 1*1. 
" Edwin Sl;ice, ()rt. I, IS»',2. 
" Jidin Wilson, .luly U, 1862. 

COMPANY C. 
Mustered nut irith lirgimiut. 
Captain Richard Souihgate. 
First Lieut. John U. Kestner. 
Second Lieut. Leonanl Boice. 

First Sergeant Matt. H. Hamilton. 
Sir:;eant John ('. Pope. 

Francis II. Thiemau. 
William Hoyd. 
Corporal Eilward P. Ilorne. 
" Jani'S Jonlan. 

" Jlervin Crowl. 
" John S>kes. 

" Jidin ('. llelTerman. 
Private Fred. Auberdak. 
" William R-nte. 
" Anloiae Brown. 
" John t'lillahan. 

John Collins. 
" Henrv Y. Kngels. 
" James Estell. 
" David Fiixgibbon (prisoner of war at 

muster-out). 
" Jos. T. F.ix. 

" Hu!;b P. Cadilis (at Chattanooga at 
muster-out of regiment). 

Wm. lladskeep. 

Henry Havne. 
" I>avid Hiwson. 
" Kayran Horau. 
" (Jasper Keller. 
" Jidin LaiTch. 

Wm. Leiekhardt. 

Wm. Lidell. 
" Goor^'e l.ind. 
" Francis Luihvig. 
" Edmund Lulhy. 

Jlitchell S. M..rsbeck. 

Bernard <;. -Myers. 
" Thos..l. Rvan (prisoner of war, etc.) 
" George .'^antholl. 
" Ernest Schreiber. 
" Francis .><cott. 
" Augustus Seiver. 
" Wm. L. Smith. 
" Henrv Stocklin. 
" Jacob Stocklin. 

Alfred II. .Sulser. 
" Lawrence Swart/.. 
" Bernard Uliling. 

African undercook Nathaniel ItDrnett. 
Recruits (transferred Jnn« 7, 1863). 

Private Edwin .\yre8. 
James McPeak. 
" William Whiteside. 

KUled, and Died (J Wonnilt). 
(\)rporal Alois Kaelin. Dec. 31, 1862. 
Private Wm. Schocli, Dec. 2.5, \>*a. 

Killed Arridentallv. • 
Corporal Hibbard P. Ward, Aug. 3, IS62. 

])ifd of Disease. 
Private Francis K« Iby, D<'C. 30. 1W.1. 
Wm. TaalT-, Marcli 1.5, IS62. 
" Herman Volkers, Oct. 2i, 1S6I. 

Officers Resigned and Honorahly Discharged. 
('aptain James W. Wilminuion. .luly 6, l.vi2. 
First Lieut. Francis H. Ehrman (.uppuiutca 

A. U. S.), Sept. 25, 18t'>2. 



616 



APPENDIX. 



Transferred. 
Second Lieut. Chas. Gilman (promoted), to 
Co. A, Sept. 11, 1802. 

Private Adolph Jurgene, to V. R. Corps, Oct. 
29, 1«5. 

Discharged. 
Tirst Sergeant Wni. Brown, Sept. 23, 1863. 
Sersraut JciUii Cnittv, Mai-cli 19, 18ii3. 

AiiL'ustus \V. Peters, April 14, 186.3. 
" Fiaiicis R. Tresch, Aug. 29, 1861. 
Corporal Ezekiil (raven, Aug. 29, 1861. 
" Francis Farley, Aug. 29, 1861. 
" 'I'liiis. KiTwin, .lune 8, 1863. 
Private Jii>ti<e il. .Vcliterniever, JJec. 2, 1861. 
" Geo. .M. Backus, Feb. 6, 1862. 
" V\ m. A. Baldwin, Dec. 9, 1863. 
" Kufvis E. Biyau, April 31), 1863. 
" James Carney, Aprils, 1863. 
" Dennis ('(.llins, Feb. 4, 1863. 
" Hurace A. Kelley (for promotion in 

another commaud), Aug. 26, 1862. 
" Fnd. B. King, Aug. 29, 1861. 
" Chas. (iauckler, Feb. 2o, 1863. 

Hrunau Kl.ieffler, Feb. 27, 1863. 
" Win. Kcehl.-r, Nov. 10, 1862. 
" lieniv W. Kruse, April 21, 1863. 
" Jii-eph Kunkle, Aug. 29, 1861. 
" ^\u\. L. .Markenzie, July 24, 1863. 
" Jlaithi M^ehiin, .Sept. 24, 1861. 

Francis :M. .Hurpliv, April .30, 1863. 
" 'I'honias nliver, Fi>b, 6, 1862. 

Sinnou B. Uice, April 30, 1863. 
" Mirlni.l Iti.g'rs leb. 6, 1862. 
" John S^Mi'ieiis, Jan. 19, IKilS. 
" AnJrew .-^cliube, June 19, 1.S63. 
" James W. ^harp, Feb. 14, 1863. 
" John K. .Smith, Jan. 6, 18rt.'i. 
" Theodore Wager (te enlist in 4th U. S. 

Artillery ij June 22, l,sti2. 
" Joseph Weisbrod, April :',0, 1863. 
" Edward Williams, Aug. 7, 1862. 

Dropped, etc. 
Sergeant Bernard O'Farrell, Nov. IS, 1862. 
Private Gustave Betbge, Oct. 1, 1862. 

" John Burke, April U), 1863. 

" ,bise|,h li^iMs, June 30, 1861. 

" Janes M. iKniohue, Aug. 1, 1862. 

" Clriii 111,- imlle June 30, 1861. 

" .Ji.liii lariier, .luiie ?,{\ IsGI. 

" Jas. W. llasleiu, April 1(1, 186.1. 

" James W. Iliteheii-,, April 1(1, 1863. 

" Win. II. II. .Men, July Is, ls02. 
Chas. Ke.vr, S.^pl. I, m;i. 

" J.ilii, 1!. .Miii.M-, ,lun- :;ii, 1S61. 
Ge.ii-e .Maeklev, .Man-li 1, lsii2. 

" James li. Aleeliaii, Nov. 26, 1861. 

" Georgi' Ml. lire, -Oct. 1, 1862. 

" Herman Mosler, July 20, 1862. 

" Gustave Kb. -in, Aug. 1, 1x62. 

" Fr.Mleriek Smith, June 30, l.sfil. 

" Jos.pb Trickier, April 2:3, 1864. 

" Wm. 11. Van Pelt, .July 18, 1862. 

" George Wallers, Oct 1, 1862. 

COMPANY D. 
Mtistered out with Regiment. 
Captain Chas. B. Russell. 
First Lieut. Geo. W. Morris. 
Second Lieut. \Vm. K. Glisan. 

First Sergeant Wm. F. Balming. 
Sergeant Wm. Bi.w.rs. 
^' Ewell West. 

" AmilS Willongliby. 
D.iinis (I'Brien. 
Corporal Win. A. Clockenburg (absent). 
W ui. A. Vates. 
Will. H. Drips. 
" Jiilin Turner. 
Musician Win. A. Cormany. 

Oliver D. Blakeslee. 
Private Joseph Anter. 

" Frederick it. Bastian. 



Private Clias, H. Bausley. 

AugustBrist.il. 
" Hei man Brocknian. 
" George W. Brown. 

Joliii Butclier. 
" Luther Carpenter. 

Wm. Darby. 

Frank Deliar. 

Joseph Desar. 

Wm. F. Dill. 

HugoEdl.r. 
" Wm. rF. Failor (at Chattanooga at 

muster-out). 
" John Farrell (at Chattanooga at 

muster-out). 
" Alex. K. Green. 
" Conrad Herring. 
" Thos. Herring. 
" lieinhold Hoffman. 
" Antoine Imer. 
" Frank Korte. 
" John J. Lodge. 

Thos. H. B. McNeil. 
" I'rank A. Jlanns. 
" Albert II. Martheus. 

John Meelil.'V. 

Thos. J. Morgan. 
" George F. Mosher. 
" Wm. C. Rees. 
" Andrew Remlinger. 
" Michael Renner. 
" George Rieliarter. 

Thos. J. Rice. 
" George G. Sabin. 
" Wm. Saxou. 
" Thos. Scannel. 
" Frederick Soglian. 
" Frederick Speck. 

Wm. Vont. 
" John Wakeman. 
" Steplien H. Weeks. 

Wm. li. We.dcs. 
" John W'ieil.Techt (absent). 
" Martin Wiedereebt ^absent in hospi- 
tal — Mission Ridge wounds). 
" John L. Williams. 

Officers Resigned. 
First Lieut. John C. Parker, Feb. !.■>, 1862. 
Second Lieut. Thos. H. Boy Ian, Feb. 14, 1862. 
" Harry Gee, Sept. 11, 1862. 

Killed, and Died of Wounds. 
Sergeant James F. McGregor, .Sept. 20, 1863. 
Corporal .\iigustus W. Young, Nov. 2J, 1S63. 
Private Adam Hugel, I'eb. 6, 1863. 

" George K. Kopp, Sept. 20, 1863. 
" Joseph liiim, Nov. 25, 1863. 
" Samuel W. Stephenson, Oct. 10, 1863. 
Simeon Weeks, Nov. 30, 1863. 

Killed Accidentally, 
Captain Ezekiel H. Tatem (railroad accident), 
July 15, 1862. 

Died of Disease. 
Private Anthony Carroll, Oct. — , 1862. 
Joseph Post, Oct. 22, 1862. 
" Chas. Vauway, Oct. 22, 1861. 

Transferred. 
Second Lieut. Jos. L. Antram, to Co. H, 

April 17, 1863. 
Private Fi'ed. H. Alms, to Signal Corps, Jan. 

16, 1864. 
Private Wm. F. Doepke, to Signal Corps, Jan. 

16, 1861. 
Private Levi L. Pritzell, to Co. H, June 18, 

1«61. 
Private Edwin D. Smith, to Battery M, 4th 

U. S. Artillery, Oct. 23, 1862. 
Private Kellian Strassher, to Co. H, June 18, 

1*1. 
Private Nicholas Stumpf, to Co. H, June 18, 

1861. 
Private Edward Uliu, to Co. H, June 18, 1861. 



APPENDIX. 



617 



Corporal Liberty H. Jenkes, to V. R. Corps, 

Aug. 31, 1>63. 
Private Geoife'e W. Lawrence, to V. K. Corps, 
Aug. 31, 1S63. 

Discharoed. 
•First Sergeant James H. Cochnower (for pro- 
moticni in aiiotlier conimaml), Dec. 13, 1801. 
Sergeant Geo. T. Marshall, Nov. Z), 18.;2. 

" James \V. Morgan, Aug. 2fi, 1S62. 
Corporal Will. Hawkins, l-Vb. 24, i,sC.3. 

" W ;lll;irc 11 II liie, .lall . 1 '.I, iMVi. 

.laiurs .lohnsoii, Fell. f>, l>sii2. 
" (iilc.-; I). Uicliaids, Marcli 23, 1S03. 
Private Ju.s. I5eu.lM-, May 1, 1863. 

John liinibauni, Dec. 29, 1862. 
" C. Ciilunihus Cones (lor promotion 
ill anoihercomiiiand), Aug. — , 1S02. 
" ('has. licLeiin, JIarcli 26, IfMB. 
" Alheit (_'. Drips, jNIarcli 9, 1663. 

Janili (;niss, Keli. l.S, 1S63. 
" Samuel Kellar, AuiX. L'S IsiU. 
" Fre.l. LMiK-aster, Maieli 19, 1863. 
" llcnr\ II. Laniiis, Nuv.i:!, 1S62. 
" Chas. Miichell, May 16, 1.S62. 

John K. lirr!^, Sept. 29, 1801. 

" George W. Weiss, . 

" Wni. W. Williams, April 14, 1863. 

" Tlios. Wolcot, Oct. 9, 1862. 

" John 1'. Wolfick, July 31, 1862. 

Dropped. 
Corporal Thos. Daniels, May 7, 1862. 
Private Edward Chattin, April 1, 1862. 

" Jos. Lively, June 30, 1S61. 

" James H. Mahou, — — . 

" Adam Koberts, April 1, 1862. 

COMPANY E. 
3liislered out with Eegimenl. 
Captain Wm. E. Sheridan. 
First Lieut. James F. Graham. 

First Sergeant Abram R. Lemmon. 
Kergeaut James l.awler. 
" Wm. Ki-lier. 

Josrph Tiuley. 
" Wm. Leike. 
Corporal I'ulaski W. Fuller. 
Alex. Kigler. 
Pc'ter Mabis. 
Private Giorge W. Adams. 
Joseph Ade. 
" Israel Arnold. 

John Ueii. -dick. 
" aiil.'s lihike. 
" Anthony W. Bowen. 
" Christopher C. Bowen. 
" George W . Bowen. 
" Nidson A. Britt (prisoner of war- 
died in rebel prison). 
" Henry A. Brown (at Chattanooga at 

miistei-out ). 
" Maurice D. Brown (at Chattanooga 

at muster-out). 
" Keiibeu D. Burgess. 
" James Carr. 
" Patrick Corcoran. 
Aiidr.w Dirliiiiin. 
" Kugeu'' Diserens. 

Ciia.s. Kekhart. 
" Adam Kmmeit. 
" George W. Fisher. 
" John Fisher. 
Adamll.ss. 
John llolKvn. 
" .lohn (;. .hiL^er. 
John Kaiiliin. 
" John Kiiicella. 

Wilberloree Knott. 
" Kichard Lambert. 
" Abiel Leaver. 
" J<ihn E. Long. 
" Joseph E. Longenbach. 
" James II. Lyons. 
" Andrew Miser. 



Private Robert Porter (aKsent). 

" John Paul Huliensteiii (prisoner of 

war at muster-out). 
" Oliver Salliii. 
" John B. Sampson. 

Beiij. F. Scull. 
" George T. Seeley. 
" .loliii II. Simmons. 

Samii.d Shroder. 
" Win. Shroder. 
" Juscpli Soiisnier (at Chattanooga at 



StlT- 



nil ) 



Jidlll ('. Speidel. 
" Aliram A. 'I'niesdale. 

Horatio Tueker. 

Enoch West. 
" Robert Wise. 
" William Wise. 

Recruits {Transferred June 7, 1864). 
Private George Beun. 

Peter II. Britt. 
" Archibald Mangan. 
Fairfax W. Nel.son. 
" Sherwiu S. Perkins. 
" Henry B. Stites. 

Oj)icer Resigned, 
First Lieut. John F. Hoy, July 21, 1861. 

Killed, and Died of Wonnds. 
Corporal Betij. F. Terry, Sept. 28, 1863. 
Priv;ite (^has. Davis, Dec. 31, 1862. 

" Robert Davis, D.-c. 31, 1862. 

" Chas. Deikin.yrr, Dec. 31, 1862. 

" Agathon into, .Ian. 22, l.'<63. 

" Simeon Shattin k, Dec. 31, 1862. 

" Michael Schtiwbe, Dec. 31, 1862. 

" Robert E. Tuxworth, Sept. 19, 1863. 

Died of Disease. 
Private Edmund H. Hall (at Knoxville, 
Tenn.), date not known. 

Transferred. 
Captain Samuel C. Erwin (promoted Major), 

April 18, 1863. 
First Lieut. James M. Donovan (promoted), 

to Co. K, April 18, 1863. 
First Lieut. Frank S. Schieffer (promoted), 

April 7, 1864. 
S roiid Lieut. Henry C. Choate (promoted), to 

Co. (;, .Ian. 28^ 1863. 
Second Lieut. George W. Morris (promoted), 

to Co. D, Feb. 14^ 1862. 
Sergeant James F. Graham, appointed Ser- 

geant-Ma.jor July 8th, 1862. 
Private John llollister, to Co. H, June 19, 

1801. 

Private Peter Kreps, to V. R. Corps, Feb. 21, 
1864. 

Discharged. 
First Sergeant Joseph L. Anti-am (for promo- 
tion in Sixth Ohio), Aug. 19, 1862. 
First Sergeant Leonard Boice (for promotion 

in Sixth llbio), .Ian. 28, 1803. 
Fiisl Sriiieiiiit Earl W.Stimson, July 31, 1862. 
(.oiporal Kobi'it Howdon (.to enlist in navy), 

.M;uill 4, IM-.:!. 
Corporal ('has. Williams, Feb. 16, 1863. 
Private Chas. H. Baldwin, Jan. It, 1864. 

" William Betts, , 1862. 

" Oliver Chamberlain, Aug. 28, 1861. 
" John E. Craig (for proiiiofioii iu au- 

other command), Sept. 2.'., l.sOl. 
" Joseph L. lerdon, April lil, 1803. 
" Herman Krastrom, June lii, 1862. 
" Tliomas (ireeiiwood, June i:), 186,3. 
" Matthew (irogran, Feb. 13, l,sij2. 
" John Harrison, Jan. 19, 1863. 
" (;arl Korner, l''eli. 8, 1802. 
" Samuid .1. Lawrence, Aug. 28, 1861. 
" Samuel I'ierson, Feb. 12, 1863. 
" Joseph Kebel, June 1.0, 18l'i;5. 
" Nicholas Rudolph, June 29, 1862. 



618 



APPEXDIX. 



Private Samuel Skelton, Feb. 12, I'JeS. 

Matthew Smith, Feb, 1», 18r.3. 

" James L. Terry, April lit, l.s»i2. 

" Ulrich Walireiiburger, , 1861. 

" Benj. V. Williams, Sept. 16, 1863. 

Dropped, etc. 
Corporal Geo. Hewison. Jan. 19, 1863. 
Private John Climer, March 17, 1862. 

" Jacob CumminK, June 19, 1862. 

" Valentine Cumming, June 19, 1862. 

" Jasper Graham, Feb. 26, 1862. 

" Chas. Ireland, July IS, 1862. 

" John JouMshaus, June 19, 1862. 

" Hfnr\ MnrLTan, June 19, 1862. . 

" Jos.-|ili (I ri.nnor, June 19, 1862. 

" Huali 0'I>..nnell, Aug. 1, 1862. 

" John (TNill, MaiL-h 26, 1863. 

" John Qiiiuii, .linn- 25, 1861. ■ 

" Alberts, llilchic, June 19, 1S62. 

" Henry Stanley, JLicu. 25, 1863. 

" Daniel Wilguss, Dec. 20, 1861. 

COMPANY F. 

Mustered ont xoith Begiment. 
Captain Justin M. Thatcher. 
First Lieut. Jesse C. La Bille. 

First Sergeant Wm. H. Kead. 
Sergeant Otto Brewer. 

" Wm. E. Jackson. 

" John A. Siegel. 

" John E. Hewitt. 
Corporal John 15. .Miller. 

" Edu ani Lawrence. 

" Aunu>t -Merman. 

" Wm. K.Wood. 

" Fred. Liiicnbrink. 

" Sliltiiu Limebach. 

" James Wood. 

" Tbos. B. Manning. 
Musician Joseph Laieber (prisoner of war at 

muster-out). 
Wagoner .bdui MeClury. 
Private Jolm Battdl. 

llairv T, r.lake. 
Edward Brady. 

" Liiiiis lirsrordes. 

" David Hdwney. 
MiehaelEiiright. 

" Jami'S H. Erwin. 

" Henry E vers. 

" Frederick Finer. 

" George Holfman. 

" Wm. Kcssemeyer. 

" Brrnard Klatte. 

" PetrrLagaly. 

" Ernst Lawrence. 

" John Lawrence. 

" Franklin Lefeber. 

" Henry Leonard. 

" H>rman Limes. 

" Jolin tinecman. 

" Pirry JleAdams. 

" Millon MelJnlly. 

" Auu'iist Martin. 

" Jos. T. Ni'ppcr. 
Srth (;. Pri-kins. 

" Jonathan Hoames. 

" Hrnrv llohlman. 
Josrpl, Kiiir. 

" Anthony Schaffer. 

" Henry Smith. 

" Levi Sommers 

" Giistav Stuhe. 

" Fmh'rirk Taphorn. 

" Slrwait I'lMwilliger. 

" Cleujent Tliiesing. 

" Daniel Toumeyer. 

" Peter West. 

" Wm. Wit to. 
Wm. Wolf. 

" James Yost. 

" ('has. Young. 

" A\m. Young (prisoner of war at mus- 
ter-out). 



African undercook Carter Hughes. 
" " Wm. Pope^ 

Becrnits {transferred June 7, 1864). 
Private Josepli Annear. 
" Ferd. Armbruster. 
" Frank Butsch. 
" Joseph Furst. 
" John Buff. 
" Jacob Weaver. 

Officers Besigned and Honorably Discharged. 
(Captain Chas. H. Brutton, Jan. 14, 1863. 
First Lieut. James F. Irwin, Jan. 29, 1864. 

Killed, and Died of Wounds. 
Corporal Louis Evers, Dec. 31, 1862. 
Private Christ. Ark, Dec. 31, 1862. 

Wm. Brocksmith, April 7, 1862. 

" Thos. Brown, Dec. 31, 1862. 

" James H. Dians, Sept. 19, 1863. 

" Gottfried Hcileman, Jan. 20, 1863. 

" Jos. Ilooth, Sept. 18, 1863. 

" John y. Boot, Jan. 5, 1863. 

" Joseph Toomeyer, Nov. 25, 1863. 

" Henry Willis, Jan. 5, 1863. 

Died of Disease. 
Private Edwin S. Crawford, Dec. .'i, 1R62. 
" Andrew Oerthel, Sept. 24, 1861. 

Transferred. 

First Lietit. Chas. H. Heron, appointed Adju- 
tant, June — , 1S61. 

Second liieut. Frank S. Schieffer (promoted), 
to Co. E, Feb. 17, 186:5. 

First Seigeant Wm. E. Sheridan, appointed 
St-rEeaiit-Major, Dec. 17, 1861. 

First Serjeant Aldert G. Williams, .appointed 
Scrgeunt-Major, May 31, 1S62. 

Private ('has. Hottendorf (to servo out time 
in 41st Ohio), June 6, 1864. 

Private Thos. Neald, May 17, 1863. 

Corporal Frederick W. Hipp, to V. E. Corps, 

Nov. 9, 1863. 
Private Toby Sayler, to V. B. Corps, Nov. 6, 

1863. 
Private Wm. Simpson, to V. K. Corps, Nov. 6, 

1863. 

Discharged. 

Sergeant David J. Decamp (for promotion in 
another command), May 8, 1862. 

Sergeant Daniid A. Griffin, ■. 

Vere W. B..rssi, Sept. 21, 1861. 
Corporal John R. Frankcliur^'iM-, June 4, 1862. 

Edward P. Perkins, Jan. 14, 1862. 
Private Jacob (Writes, Aug. 13, 1863. 

" Caspar N. Gunther, April 12, 1863. 

" George Ilear.th, Oct. 4, 1862. 

" Henry Nierman, June 17, 1862. 

" Thos. Noble, Julv 30, 1862. 

" Henry Peters, Nov. 13, 1861. 

" Chas. Bocap, Oct. 14, 1862. 

" Geo. W. Vandegrift, Aug. 29, 1862. 

Dropped, etc. 
Private Michael Carrigan, June 20, 1862. 
" Wm. Gloeb, Dec. 3, 1861. 
" Louis Kolp, Aug. 31, 1862. 

Michael Miller, Oct. 1, 1862. 

Wm. (iveU',,niier, Oct. 1, 1862. 
" Wm. (Ivereiid, Oct. 1, 1862. 
" George \V. riummer, Oct. 1, 1862. 
" John B. Banisey, April in, 1863. 
" Ivonia BoUins, April 10, 1863. 
" Larkiu Smith (sick in hospital). 

COMPANY G. 
Mustered out tviih Begiment. 
Captain Wm. S. Getty. 
First Lieut. George W. Cormany. 

First Sergeant Abram J. Price. 



APPENDIX. 



619 



Sergeant Jolm W. Easely. 

" HerbtTt Sullivan. 

" Jolm Peer. 
Corporal Hiiiiv F. Howe. 
Dfwitt C. Hays. 

" (has. S. Dunn. 

" Ilanv SimiMons. 

" Cliiis. A. II. Mucker. 

" John t^ullivau. 

" Tho.s. Buiuutt. 

" A\ m. Lotze. 

" George W. J. Miller (prisoner of war, 

fU:.) 

Musician Jac oh Braunse. 
Private \\ alter Baldwin. 

Wni. Bo.lv. 

]>,-t.r HoImt. 
" Cluis. Houtwell (died in rebel prison). 
" HanuT Bia.lhurv. 

JoM'j.h Biulchardt. 
" Jnshua Cain. 
*' Wni. K. Collins. 
" Tho.s. Ci-oniw.dl. 
" Andrew M. Duun. 
" Dauitl A. Kgan. 
" Andrew Keuhoff. 
" Atlas B. I'isher. 
" Horace Fisher. 
" Wni. \V. Garrard (prisoner of war, 

etc.) 
" John S. Gilson. 

IVt.r n(.r>are. 

Miehcdas Kehr. 
" Anilrew K.llcr. 
" John H. J.oskam. 
" Kudolph .Maizuine. 
" Kobrrt C. Nelson. 
" Albert U. Parreut. 
" Will. C. Perkins. 
" Benj.Post. 

" Georgi- Kliymearson (detailed). 
" John J. Hicliards. 
" Win. B. Kowe (died in rebel prison). 
" Geo. W. ivush. 
" Anson W. Schenck. 
" Win. II . Sirvice. 
" John .Singer (died in rebel prison). 
" Isaac H. f!turgis. 
" Wni. 11. Sturgis. 
" John K. Sullivan. 

Win. F. Sullivan. 
" James A. Taylor. 
" Prirr Walton. 
" Janus a. Willis. 
" HL-nry ZarbrocU. 

African undercook George Washington. 
" " John Jennings. 

Recruits (trans/erred June 7, 1864). 
Private Gustave Bender. 
" Joseph Katchiug. 
" Joseph Long. 
" Frank I'arsuips. 

Killed, and Died of Wounds. 
First Sergeant George B. Kidenour, Dec. 31, 

1862. 
Corporal Oliver P. Rockenfield, Dec. ."il, 1863. 
Private J. Addison ColwcU, Jan. 15, 1,S6,!. 
" Jolm Huddle.ston, Sept. ly, 18()3. 
" Sanuiil P. Stallcup, April 7, 1863. 
" Kobert M. Taulinan, Jan. 20, 1863. 

Died of Disease. 
Sergeant Wm. H. Lloyd, Sept. 19, 1862. 

Transferred. 
Captain Anthony 0. Russell, promoted Major, 
. .\ng. 19, 1862. 
First Lii'ut. Jules J. Montagnier (promoted), 

to Co. B, Feb. .3, 1863. 
First Lieut. Ueury C. Choate (promoted), to 

Co. B, Jlay 27, 1864. 
Becou<l Lieut. James F. Irwin (promoted), to 

Co. F, Feb. 19, 1863. 



Private Maley Lemmings, to Co. IT, June 26, 

1861. 
Private Wm. R. Goo<lnough, appointed Q. M.- 
Sergeant, iMay 31, 1862. 

Private Silas S. Duun, to V. R. Corps, Oct. 29, 

18(i;j. 
Private John FenhofT, to V. R. Corps, Oct. 29, 

lN-,3. 
Private Frederick Haba, to V. R. Corps, Nov. 

13, I.Ni3. 
Private Milton Parvin, toV.R. Corps, March 

7, 1861. 
Private Michael G. Ryan, to V. R. Corps, 
Aug. 1, 1863. 

Discharged. 
Sergeant Lewis Schramm, Feb. in, 1863. 
Curjioral Wni. A. Clark, Jan. 27, 1861. 

" Walter Lawrence (Tor iiromotion in 

Sixth Oliii.', Jnlv II, 1862. 
" Julin.s ( '. Sehenel;, March 31, 1863. 
" Joseph I'.l.'iiers .May 4, 1862. 
" .MlVeil IJnnelt, Aug. 29, 1861. 

Private Ausjn.-tns C|, nienls, Oct. 23, 1862. 
Wni. II. Ebc^rle, July 16, 1862. 
" Win. J. Gialuiin, Aug. 27, 1863. 
Chas. Ileable, Keb. 10, 18ti.3. 
Gottlieb lliistbinn. 'I-, Feb. 26, 1863. 
Wm. K. Jovce, Jan. 7, l.s6.3. 
" Joseph iMelManns, Aug. 7, 1863. 
" Joseph Alelzler, Sept. 19, 18«)2. 
" Arnbro'^e A. Phillips, May 12, 1862. 

Alex. SchencU, Sept. 17, 1861. 
" August Scliniidtnian, iMay 17, 1863. 
" Wm. II. Sloan r.ir inuinotion in Ma- 
rine l;ii-Milei, .Mareli 7, 1863. 
" James J. Waggoner, July 25, 1862. 

Dropped, etc. 
Private Alex. Barclay, July 1, 1862. 

Heiirv Bereiter, Aug. 8, 1862. 

Eden B. R. Biles, May 1, 1864. 
" 11. W. H. Dickman, Oct. .3, 1862. 
" Thos. Fennell, Sept. 7, 1862. 
" James .1. Cil.lea, iMav 1, 1864. 
" Isaac llnir, .M.iv 1, 1864. 

AVm. SleLanglilin, May 1, 1864. 
" Wm. IMausington, Nov. 28, 1862. 
" Robert Nolan, Oct. I, 1862. 

Michael P. Way, May 1, 1864. 

COMPANY H. 

Mustered out with Reriiment. 
Captain Henry H. Tinker (absent from 

wounds received at Chickamauga). 
First Lieut. James F. Meliuo. 

First Sergeant Benj. F. Hopkins. 
Sergeant Joseph II. McCHintock. 

" (has. A. Haller (absent sick). 

" Joseph S. Wehrle. 

" Joseph Gang. 

Corporal Albert Speece. 

B.nj. D. Hall. 

" Joseph R. Northcraft. 

" Frank P. Winstett. 

" Frank I). Wentworth. 

" John A. Bonner. 

" Henry Schaffer. 
Busier Wm. Sehniidt. 
Mnsieiaii .lohn ¥. Dressel (absent). 
Waeoner (Jeorsje Harrison. 
Private Win. C. Allen. 

" Thos. Armstrong. 

" James F. Attee. 

" Joseph C'hlor. 
Joseph O. Clark. 

" John Croniii. 

" John W. Douglas. 
Henry Duvall. 

" Wm. C. Ellis. 

" Henry Frazer. 

" August Friday. 

" Ileniy W. Frillman. 

" George Greenfield. 



620 



APPENDIX. 



Private Lewis Ilabn. 

Juljii F. Ihinley. 
" Herm.iu HinUly. 
" Ilaiiiiibal M. llopklnB. 

II, ■my K-ith. 
" Tliiiiiia?^ Ki-iineily. 
" I'.itrirk Lmuup. 
" l»uiiii-l 31<(Hlliciiddy. 
" Ali-aNmi -Max well. 

Kiibeit .MviiuU. 
" John Jluir. 
" Josepli N'Ville. 
" JaiiK'S U'M alley. 
" iliraiii E. Pa;;!'. 

('. I'.M.it (absent). 
" Jo.K.-i.l, K.ihKr (.absent). 
" .Sl.i,li.-n K.iss. 

" Clla-. Srl,ust.-r. 

" Kilii,, II Si raster. 

" Jiii har.l I liniupson. 

" (Jrul-r W Inppv. 

(ii-nf^,- \\ . W lilstler. 
" James 13. Willits. 

Missing in A clion. 
Private Micbael Mauly, siuce Sept. 19, 1S63. 

Killed, and Died of Wounds. 
Private John Christ (Chickamauga wounds), 

Private' VabMitine JMcrdian, Nov. 25, 1863. 
ll.iirv Kashcr, Feb. 17, 1S63. 
Mai laii S.-. baii.r, Jan. 20, 1S6.3. 
" Obas. v\ altL-rniet, Jan. 2, 1863. 
Benj. Worrell, Nov. 27, 1863. 

Killed Accidenlally. 
Second Lieut. Solomon Bidwell, Oct. — , ISGl. 

Officers Resigned. 
First Lieut. Jos. L. Antram, Oct. 28, 1863. 
" " J oliu W. Morgan, Sept 11, la62. 

Trans/erred. 
First Lieut. Wni. E. Sheridan (promoted), to 

Co. E, April — , 1863. 
Private Maley Lemiug (to enlist in gunboat 

service). 

Private Joseph Habn, to V. R. Corps, Jan. 24, 

1864. 
Private Samuel Lawrence, to V. R. Corps, 

Jan 24 1864. 
Private i'erd. Schoenfelder, to V. K. Corps, 
Oct. 29, 1863. 

Discliarged. 
First Sprceant Wm. H. Pierce (for promotion 

ill aiiothri- conimand), Aug. 4, 1862. 
Seru'eaiit .b'hn L. Miller (tor promotion in 
anotliiT cuiiuuanil), Sept. 2S), lKi2. 
.Sergeant Samuel Walker, Jan. 20, 1864. 
Corporal Wm. A. Ream, March 11, 1862. 
•' Joseph Sandheger, Sept. 9, 1862. 
" Levi riionipsun, Feb. 28, 1*3. 
Private Levi 11 . Baieliu>, Dee. 27. IfM'A. 
Will. IJcurgaid, .^laieh 17, 1^63. 
" John (i. IJe.\ le I lor promotidii in au- 

otlier eomiiiaiiil), Sept. 29, 1862. 
" Pelevaii Blown, April 6, 1813. 
" Eugene Bi own, Sept. 21, 1862. 
" Bivan C. Eager (to enlist in 4th U. S. 

Aitillery), Dec. IS, 1862. 
" John M. Gay, Jan. 14, 1863. 
" Lawrence (jeiss, Aug. 4, 1S<)3. 
" Max Heiidrieks, Aug. 12, 1862. 

John llollister, Feb. 29, 1862. 
" John G. King, Sept. 22, 1861. 
' Jos. Legrand, Jau 9, 1864. 
" Owen Miirpliv, Aug. 4, 1863. 
" Levi L. t'litz.ll, Jan. 10, 1862. " 
" John Itilev (by sentence court-mar- 
tial), Nov. 14, IS62. 
•' David Singer, Feb. 9, 1863. 
" Andrew Sullivan, Nov. 3, 1862. 
" Edward Ulm, April 21, 186!. 
" Anthony Walsh, Jau. 6, 1863. 



Dropped, etc. 
Corporal Chas. Ashman, Dec. 31, 1862.' 
Private Robert Andrews, Aug. 31, 1863. 

" Wm. I.'arrington, Aug. 18, 1862. 

" Henry (,'olmburg, Aug. 18, 1862. 
John Jlah'y, Dec. 9. 1861. 

" John 1). Newman, Aug. 18, 1862. 

" Nicholas .Siiinipf, July 21, 1861. 

" Aiitoniii Miiitli. Aug. 18, 1862. 

" Heuiv ('. Thatcher, Aug. 31, 1863. 

" John Wilsou, Aug. IS, 1862. 

COMPANY I. 
Mustered out with Regiment. 
Captain Benj. F. West. 
First Lieut. George T. Lewis. 

First Sergeant Wm. L. Wolverton. 
Sergeant .lolin Hanley. 

" Fenl. McDoiiough. 
Corporal Win. LaiiKciiheim. 
^' Wm. Crawford. 
" Chas. Fahlbusch (detailed). 
" Richaril Garyyood. 
" Henry lianneyer. 

" Fled. Laicuiu. 
Musician Edwanl IMcke. 
Wagoner Frederick Shoenell. 
Private Otto .\nner. 
" Gust'ave Bauer. 
" B. Frank Brahm. 
" Adolph Bruner. 
" Henry Biiddenbaum. 

Newton Bncknell. 
" Geiifge Burner. 

Edward P. Catlin. 

Benj. W. Claik. 

Jos. Dreher. 
" Antoine Frave. 
" August Grass. 
" Edwin Grei-u. 
" Juse[ili Gutzweiler (detailed). 
" Jacob Hauser. 

Gottlieb Heller. 
" James V. Hirley. 

Adolph Hot. 
" David Hunnuch. 
" Roland 0. Jones. 
" Will. Jursens. 
" Dennis 11. Kennedy. 
" Christ. Kohli (absent in hospital, 

from wounds). 
" Jacob Landis. 
" Jacob Lesie. 
" John ('. Lynch. 

John McGlore. 
" James Martin. 

Wm. L. Jlay. 

Eli .Miller. • 
" Hiram Mosier. 
• " August Nischan. 
" John L. Rea (detailed). 
" Timothy Ryan. 
" Christ. Schweitzer. 
" Matthias Seibert. 
" Silvester W'eber. 
" Wm. C. Weber. 

W 111. Yager. 
" John Zimmerman. 

African undercook Geo. Washington. 

Recruits (.transferred June 7, 1864). 
Private John Collins. 

" Joseph Henderson. 
" Samuel Parker. 
" Andrew Ray. 
" Joseph Seiter. 

Missing in Action. 
Private .Tames Carson, Sept. 20, 1863. 

Wm. Maygattbygan, Sept. 20, 1863. 

Killed, and Died of Wounds. 
Private Marx Essiuger, Nov. 25, 1363. 



APPENDIX. 



621 



Private Jacob Hillflecker, Feb. 4, 1862. 

Daiiii-l E. McC;irty, Sept. 19, 18f.3. 
" Hriiiiicli Nortman, April 7, lS(i2. 
" ^iiuiiifl FulvtT, i>ec. 31, lSti2. 
" Jacob il. ItMpi.lie, Dec. 31, 1,%2. 
" Fiecifiick Spnii>;meyer, Dec. 31, 1862. 
" Gregoire Yehle, Sept. 11, 1801. 

Died of Disease. 
Private Wm. Wenzel, July 8, 1862. 

Officer Resigned. 
Second Lieut. Walter Lawrence, Feb. — , 1863. 

Traiis/ened. 
Captain James Bense (promoted Major), Jan. 

20, 1864. 
First Lieut. Richai'd Soutbgate (promoted), 

to Co. C.Nov. 2, 1,^62. 
Second Lieut. Josiab W. Slaulier, to Co. K, 
April 30, 1863. 

Discharged. 
First Sergeant Wesley B. SIcLane (for promo- 
tion in Sixtli Oliio), June 27, 1863. 
Sergeant Cieorge T. Lewis (lor promotion in 

Sixth Uliio), Feb. 3, m)3. 
Corporal Hiiiiv C. Clioate (for promotion in 

Sixth Ohio), April 5, lai2. 
Corporal Ileury Gibson, Marcli 16, 1863. 
" Geotge S. LaKue, Jan. 27, 186-1. 
" Thos.Loiig, March 16, lst>3. 
" Edward lioileiigo, Feb. y, 1863. 
John Williams, Jlanh 16, IWS. 
Private Thos. Cartwi ijilil, .March 16, ls63. 
Fn-driick Ell.i man, ."Mav 2, 1S63. 
" Wni. i'ovri>tall, Oct. 22, 1863. 
" Frank GerhanU, Dec. 31, 1862. 
" Freflerick ll.ckert, April 18, 1864. 
" Edward llof, Sept. 26, 1862. 
" Otto Hot, Nov. 27, 1863. 
" John Jackson, June 30, 1863. 
" John Muhler, Sept. 26, 1862. 
" Orlando M. Smith, March 16, 1863. 
" John Storker, Nov. 27, l.s63. 
" Wm. T. Swilt, March 16, 186.3. 
" Wm. Y. Thorburn, Dec. 31, 1863. 
" James Wilson, March 16, 1863. 

Dropped, etc. 
Private Frederick Beck, June 24, 1861. 
" Peter Bruner, June 24, IStU. 
" Jolm Burckhardt, June 24, 1861. 
" Michael Counell (paroled prisoner), 

Mav 1, 18ii4. 
" Samuel Erininger, Feb. 12, 1863. 
" Kobert Fenley (paroled prisoner), 

May 1, 1864. 
" Wm. Geisel, June 24, 1861. 
" John Little (paroled prisoner). May 

1, 1864. 
" Jacob Litz ■!, June 2t, 1861. 
" Thos. Marshall (paroled prisoner). 

May 1, 1864. 
" John Oysti rboy (paroled prisoner), 

Mav 1, 1864. 
*' Robert H. Pence, June 11, 1862. 
" Michael S. Witnier, March 19, 1862. 
•' Miritz Zink, June 24, 1861. 

COMPANY K. 
Mustered out with Regiment. 
Captain James M. Donovan. 
First Lieut. Ohas. C. Peck. 

First Sergeant George B. Nicholson. 
Sergeant Jethro T. Hill. 

" Wni. S. Siiuires. 

" Wm. Gain. 
Corporal Albert Kimball. 

" Joseph H. (Johagen (died in rebel 
prison). 

" Nehen\iah V. Pennington. 
Musician Lewis Hatt. 
Private Clirist. Albert. 

" John A. Barth. 



Private Henry Beckmnn. 

John H. Bowlby. 

Geo. \V. Bowlby. 
" Louis ('. liiihm. 
" (;e..r-e Hii^kiik. 
" IJolic-rt S. Cnlbertson. 
" l-'iaiiels .1. ('ulloni. 
" ('has. I iiMiiinaliam. 
" Frrdi-rick Kimeman 

Henry Klsin-. 
" Constantine Keeker. 
" Wm. T. lioodwin. 
" Josi'ph (Iran (.ibsont from wounds). 

John H.itliui;. 

Isaac B. Hart. 

Daniel H.iuie. 

Petir ll..flniaii. 
" Jacob HolTnaiiel. 
" Lorenz Hnlier (prisoner of war, etc.) 

JohnA. Koo. 
" August Kn-yi'nluigen. 
" Jolm ('. Li'istnrr. 
" A\'m. .\. Iiohn I prisoner of war, etc.) 
" Theodore B. McDonald. 
" Fraiitz Meier. 
" IVilro Montaldo (absent, from 

wounds). 
" Jolm ]\Ioorhouse. 
" Theodore Ortnian. 

Thos. Parker. 
" Reason Rcagin. 
" Clark C. Saunders. 
" Henry E. Scholle. 
" John Seitz. 
" Henry Shelton. 
" Georse W. G. Shipman. 
" Henry Shockman. 
" Jos. W. Toinson. 
" Samuel Walker. 
" Chas. Warner. 
" Frederick Wehking. 
" Geo. \V. Yeager. 
" Gerhard Zumweilde. 

Recruit {framferred June 7, 1864). 
Private Andrew Murphy. 

Killed, and Died of Wounds. 
Sergeaut Thos. G. Drake, Dec. 31, 1862. 
Jolm H. Oslinn. Sept. 20, 1863. 
Corporal Henry F. Fnnk, Sr-pt. is), 1S63. 

'' Henry G. KnyiiihaaeH, Jan. 9, 1863. 

" Joseph M.-utin, Ki'b. 8, 1863. 
Private Lewis F. I'rantz, Dec. 31, 1862. 

" George Kelscb, Feb. 1, l.s()3. 

" David Klein, March 5. 1863. 

" Jacob Nickel, Jan. 31, 1863. 

" Theodore Wesselman, Dec. 31, 1862. 

Killed Accidentally. 
Private Harvey S. Ford, Aug. 9, 1861. 

Drowned. 
Private Frank Gubra, Sept. 27, 1861. 

Died of Di.<!ease. 
Private Alex. Schmidtman, Sept. 6, 1863. 
" Raymond Welling, Oct. 5, 1862. 

Officers Resigned, etc. 
Captain Chas. M. Clarke, Sept. 8, 1862. 
Fiist Lieut. A. B. Billerbeck, Oct. 16, 1861. 
Second Lieut. Edward F. Gettier (.dismissed), 
March 30, 1863. 

Transferred. 
Second Lieut. Justin M. Thatcher (promoted), 

to Co. F, Dec. 24, 1861. 
Second Lieut. Josiab W. Blanker, appointed 

R. Q. M., April ly, 1864. 
First Sergi'ant Henry Gee, appointed Ser- 

geant-Major, Dec. 16, 1861. 
Musician John H. Bueltel, appointed Chief 

Blusician, July b, 186;',. 
Private John M. Drake, to Signal Corps, Oct. 

22, 1863. 



622 



APPENDIX. 



Private Clias. E. Lewis, appointed Hospital 
Steward, Dec. 1, IMJI. 

Sergeant Wm. Pappenbrook, to V. R. Corps, 

Nov. 1. ia-.3. 
Private Alex. Love, to V. R. Corps, Nov. 1, 

Private Wm. McBride, to V. K. Corps, Nov. 
1, 1S63. 

Discharged. 

First Sergeant James F. Meline (for promo- 
tion in Sixth Ohio), Feb. 19, 1863. 
Sergeant Herman E. W. Backus, Jan. 4, 1862. 
" HeurvN. Couth-n (for promotion in 
Mississippi Marine Brigade), April 
8, 18tj3. 
Corporal James T. Barquloo, Dec. 4, 1862. 

Chas. Dounellv, April 18, 1863. 
Private Geo. Andrews, March 2, 1863. 
" Theodore Austin, Feb. 6, 1862. 
" Frank Crets, Dec. 4, 1861. 



ate David D. Davis, Feb. 6, 1862. 
Henrv 0. Davis, March l.H, 1863. 
llciirV Gaurkstadt, Autr. 27, 1862. 
Jc.srph Ha.l.i.ick. JIarcli 13, 1863. 
Cliri-t.'i.hir H. Kulin, Aug. 3, 1863. 
Ji-ticTSOU MeClure, Julv 31, 1812. 
■Wm. A. Roebuck, Feb. 9, 1863. 
Mort. Singer (to enlist in 4tb U. ! 

Artillery), Oct. 23, 1862. 
Jaiii.'s F. Smith, March 16, 1862. 
'rrui-man I', 'rrvun, Jan. 4, 1862. 
llairi.-ou Waltz, Aug. 28, 1861. 
Thus. S. Withuell, Feb. 9, 1803. 



Dropped, etc. 

Private Frank Christman, Oct. 1, 1862. 
Clements DuUe, Dec. 5, 1861. 
Wesley W. Long, Oct. 31, 1862. 
Chas. Weideman, April 24, 1864. 
George R. Wilder, Oct. 1, 1862. 



J 



I 



'.^. 



